CONTACT:         Susan Melnyk, Chief Communications Manager, Thurston County or e-mail Susan.Melnyk@co.thurston.wa.us

Community Invited to Comment on County’s Temporary Pause on Permitting New Detention Facilities in Thurston County
Public Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 3:30 p.m.

OLYMPIA – Thurston County Commissioners will host a public hearing on August 5, 2026, to accept comments on the County’s temporary halt on permitting new correctional and detention facilities in Thurston County. 

What: Public Hearing on Detention Center Development Moratorium

When: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Room 110, 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA or watch the livestream on the County’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ThurstonCountyWashington

How to Comment: 

• In-Person At the County’s Atrium Building located at 3000 Pacific Ave SE, in Olympia.
• Virtually 
  
  • Join the online Zoom meeting after pre-registering. The Zoom link will be available on the Agendas page under the August 5 meeting listing prior to meeting start at  https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/meetings-public-hearings-and-work-session-agendas
  • Submit the online comment form https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8JYZF26
  • E-mail written comments to Ana Rodriguez, Senior Planner at ana.rodriguez@co.thurston.wa.us no later than noon on Wednesday, August 5.
• Mailed Comments 

Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development 

Attention: Ana Rodriguez, Senior Planner

Thurston County Atrium, 

3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Suite 100 

Olympia, WA 98501 

The Board put a one-year halt on permitting new public and private involuntary detention centers and correctional facilities in Thurston County on June 16, 2026. The temporary freeze aligns Thurston County with similar land-use actions recently made by King and Pierce counties.

The August 5, 2026, public hearing follows state law RCW 36.70A.390 that requires a public hearing within at least 60-days of placing a local moratorium on zoning decisions. 

The County’s moratorium is the result of a Board initiative begun in March to evaluate local controls regarding federal detention facilities. By law, the County’s temporary pause isn’t exclusive to federal detention and extends to other involuntary public and private correctional centers as well, but officials say it won’t affect vital services like private residential facilities for sex offenders, halfway houses for juveniles, or Tribal facilities which fall under different codes. 

For information on the detention center code update project, visit the County’s Amendments webpage and scroll down to New Uses and Related Standards.