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Critical Areas Update

News and Links

The Board of County Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for March 10, 2012. The subject of the hearing is Ordinance No. 14706, which establishes interim protections for prairie and Oregon white oak habitat. Click here for more information.

View our videos about the Critical Areas Ordinance planning process

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Thurston County Critical Areas Ordinance

The Growth Management Act requires local governments to protect five types of critical areas: important fish and wildlife habitat areas, wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded areas; and geologically hazardous areas, (such as bluffs). Thurston County’s critical areas regulations are a response to that law – they regulate how development and redevelopment can safely occur on lands that contain critical areas. The county's Critical Areas Ordinance dates back to 1994, so many portions are out-of-date and have failed to keep pace with changes in state law. The county is now working to update the ordinance. Please check this website often and sign up for our web mail list.

Critical Areas Ordinance

TCTV Show on Critical Areas Ordinance, June 2011

Contact Us

Interested Parties: Check back with this website for updated information. If you would like to be added to our Web Mail list, please click here. Staff contact: Andrew Deffobis, Associate Planner. Phone: (360) 754-3355, x5467 E-mail: deffoba@co.thurston.wa.us.

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