Amendments
June 16, 2026 - The Board of County Commissioners adopted a development moratorium prohibiting the siting, expansion, or establishment of certain detention facilities involving involuntary confinement (Ordinance 16635). A legal notice of adoption was published in the Nisqually Valley News on June 17, 2026.
June 23, 2026 - The Board will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 16635 on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. or soon thereafter at 3000 Pacific Ave SE.
The Amendments page contains projects that are procedural, clerical, or improvements to the existing process.
County-wide Planning Policies Update
County-wide Planning Policies (CWPP) are a requirement for all counties planning under the state Growth Management Act (GMA). Under GMA, Countywide Planning Policies establish a framework for developing and adopting county and city comprehensive plans. The role of the policies is to coordinate the comprehensive plans of jurisdictions in the same county for regional issues or issues affecting common borders. The CWPP are those things held in common across all jurisdictions' comprehensive plans and which form the foundation of those plans.
The proposed update focuses on two primary areas: Tribal coordination and Urban Growth Area (UGA) land swaps. In response to the Board's direction during the Commissioner's check-in in August 2024, CPED held two meetings with representatives from the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) and planning directors from across the County to refine policies recommendations from the Urban Growth Management Subcommittee.
On January 21, the Board held a public hearing on the proposed updated CWPPs. The Board held follow-up discussions on February 5. In response to testimony raised at the public hearing, the Board decided to move forward with the Tribal coordination updates and wait until Department of Commerce has concluded rulemaking on UGA land swaps. On March 18, the Board adopted Resolution 16508 to amend the CWPPs to incorporate changes related to Tribal coordination.
March 18, 2025 adopted County-wide Planning Policies
Proposed County-wide Planning Policies including UGA land swap policy
December 26, 2024 – A SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance was issued for the proposed County-Wide Planning Policies (CWPP) Update. To review the determination, please click the link below:
January 9, 2025 - The comment period for the SEPA determination was extended an additional 14 days from January 9, 2025 to January 23, 2025.
SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance
SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance (Revised to extend comment period 14 days)
Thank you for your interest in the updates to the County-wide Planning Policies. If you would like to participate in the public process or review comments submitted on the project, please visit the links below:
County-Wide Planning Policies Update Comment Form
Code Clarifications & Corrections Annual Update
The project serves as a placeholder to provide flexibility for staff to clarify and correct existing definitions, uses, and/or standards in Thurston County development code(s). Examples of this may include, but are not limited to, missing definitions, missing references, tables in incorrect locations, and other corrections that staff identify.
The Code Clarifications & Corrections Annual Update has been combined with the Permit Review Process Annual Update. The proposed code language is under review by the Board of County Commissioners review. Please go to the "Permit Review Process Annual Update" section for project details and timelines.
New Uses and Related Standards Annual Update
The project serves as a placeholder to provide flexibility for staff to modify or add new emerging uses to Thurston County development code(s). For the 2026-2027 cycle, the Board provided direction to develop a moratorium related to federal detention centers. This moratorium is valid for one year, and it applies to all zoning designations in unincorporated Thurston County.
June 9, 2026: Agenda Setting - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video
June 16, 2026: Moratorium Adoption - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video | Legal Notice of Adoption
The New Uses and Related Standards Annual Update is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Thank you for your interest in the updates to the New Uses and Related Standards. If you would like to participate in the public process or review comments submitted on the project, please visit the links below:
Permit Review Process Annual Update
The project serves as a placeholder to provide flexibility for staff to rapidly respond to emerging issues, inconsistencies, or redundancies in CPED's application review to provide consistent and reliable service to the public. Examples of this may include, but not be limited to, updating Board of County Commissioner appeals processes, docketing review, and other emerging permit-review related provisions that staff identify.
December 16, 2025 Adopted Ordinance 16590 - Discussions of the Board's role in land use appeals will continue in early 2026.
The Permit Review Process Annual Update concluded review by the Planning Commission on July 2, 2025.
July 10, 2024: Work Session #1 - YouTube Video | PowerPoint
May 21, 2025: Work Session #2 - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video | PowerPoint
June 4, 2025: Work Session #3 - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video | PowerPoint
July 2, 2025: Public Hearing and Recommendation - YouTube Video | Signed Recommendation Letter
September 24, 2025: Work Session - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video | PowerPoint
November 12, 2025: Public Hearing - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video
December 2, 2025: Work Session - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video
December 16, 2025: Final Action - YouTube Video
April 29, 2026: Follow Up Discussion of Land Use Appeals - Meeting Materials | YouTube Video
July 10, 2025 - A SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance was issued for the proposed Permit Review Process Annual Update. To review the determination, please click the links below.
Thank you for your interest in the updates to the Permit Review Process Annual Update. If you would like to participate in the public process or review comments submitted on the project, please visit the links below:
Permit Review Process Annual Update Comment Form