Whatcom County is moving forward with an update to its Critical Areas Ordinance, which regulates development and activities near environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, critical aquifer recharge areas and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas.
The update could affect development on properties with environmentally sensitive areas, as well as agricultural practices and other land-use regulations.
On Oct. 13, the County Council approved dividing the update into two phases.
The first phase will focus on prioritizing updates to ensure that the county is meeting requirements under the state’s Growth Management Act. Because laws can change frequently, ordinances are required to be updated every 10 years to ensure GMA compliance.
Phase one will update existing ordinance language, and review best practices and recommendations for riparian ecosystems, which are areas where water and land meet, such as wetlands, lakes, rivers and streams.
Phase two, which will begin as soon as phase one is complete, will explore other topics, such as potentially participating in the state’s Voluntary Stewardship program, updating Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps, and other priorities from the County Council and Planning Commission, as well as stakeholders and local tribes.
The county is aiming to complete the first phase before the end of the year so an ordinance update may be adopted by March 2, 2027.
To provide feedback, visit whatcomcounty.us/2026CAO to fill out the public survey, available through Nov. 13.
The Whatcom County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Dec. 10, which residents can attend online or in person at 5280 Northwest Drive, Bellingham.
