Growth Management Services Main Page
60-day Notice Requirement
Overview
Local governments are required to notify the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) when considering changes to their land use plans and the regulations that implement these plans. Notification allows CTED, and other state agencies, to participate in the public involvement process and provide comment on proposed amendments. This notification is required under RCW 36.70A.106 of the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Written notice must be sent 60 days prior to adoption of any permanent amendments to a comprehensive plan or development regulation. CTED is the coordinator of state agency comments under the GMA.
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What is 60-day review?
RCW 36.70A.106(1) and (3)(a) require that jurisdictions provide CTED with notice of their intent to adopt comprehensive plan and development regulation amendments, 60 days prior to adoption.
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What is adquate notification for 60-day review?
Because this is a statutory and procedural requirement, notice should be submitted in writing (electronic or paper). We highly recommend that you clearly indicate in your submittal that you intend to initiate 60-day notice.
Notice must be sufficient should include a copy of the proposed amendment text with a cover letter or cover sheet briefly explaining the materials submitted.
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What is insufficient notice?
Several documents, when submitted alone, or with minimal explanation, do not represent adequate 60-day notice for review. In such cases, CTED will notify the jurisdiction that more information is requested.
For example, insufficient notice may include the following items when submitted alone and without additional explanation:
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Public hearing notice postcards,
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A checklist of annual docket amendments,
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A State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determinations of Non-Significance submitted by itself, or
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A form letter announcing a proposed amendment without copies of the proposal or explanation of the specific changes.
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What is the proper format to submit materials?
E-mail or standard mail is acceptable.
CTED encourages electronic submittal of both proposed and adopted comprehensive plan and development regulation amendments by e-mail. However, paper copies continue to be accepted through standard mail. A jurisdiction does not need to submit both electronic and paper copies for the same material.
If submitting an electronic copy by e-mail, please send the documents as attachments rather than a link to the local jurisdiction website. CTED’s Internet firewall security may prevent very large attachments from being received. If a submittal is too large to e-mail, please copy it to a CD-ROM and mail it.
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Is a cover letter required?
CTED strongly requests a local jurisdiction submit either a cover sheet or a cover letter with its materials. However, you do not need to send both. A cover letter or a cover sheet greatly assists CTED staff with processing your submittal.
(1) Cover Sheet Option:
Please select an appropriate cover sheet form below to accompany your submittal:
(2) Cover Letter Option:
To whom should notification be sent?
If sending notice by e-mail, please submit materials to: reviewteam@cted.wa.gov. CTED will coordinate notification with other state agencies electronically.
If notice is submitted through the U.S. mail, or other carriers, a complete copy of all materials should be mailed to each state agency reviewer. Please use the "List of State Agencies Reviewing Comprehensive Plans" or the "List of State Agencies Reviewing Development Regulations", depending on the amendment type. Instructions are also located on these lists.
Comprehensive Plan amendent review contact list:
Development Regulations amendment review contact list:
When mailing draft proposals to CTED, please send two (2) copies:
Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
Growth Management Services
Attn: Review Team
PO Box 42525
906 Columbia St. SW
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
When does the 60-day notice period begin?
Upon receipt of adequate notice by CTED Growth Management Services.
Electronic documents are automatically date stamped upon receipt by e-mail. Mailed materials are date stamped upon receipt by the Growth Management Service reception desk.
CTED staff will enter all materials into its database and will transmit to a jurisdiction a acknowledgement letter confirming receipt. Please keep this letter for your files; it is proof that you met the requirement to provide 60-day notice to CTED prior to final adoption.
For more information, contact your regional Growth Management planner or Dave Andersen, Planning and Review Team Manager at (360) 725-3052.
When can Expedited Review be requested?
RCW 36.70A.106(b) provides CTED with authority to grant expedited review by state agencies of certain development regulations or development regulation amendments under the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Expedited review, if granted, allows jurisdictions to adopt minor development regulation amendments in a shorter time period than 60 days.
How is Expedited Review requested?
Local governments may request expedited review when they are providing CTED notice of intent to adopt development regulations under RCW 36.70A.106.
Expedited review requests must be submitted by e-mail and should include the proposed amendment text and a copy of the Expedited Review Request Form noted below. Please refer to the following instructions for more information.
What should be submitted to CTED after final adoption of an amendment?
Under RCW 36.70A.106(2), cities and counties are required to submit a complete and accurate copy of the comprehensive plan or development regulation, or amendments, within 10 days of adoption.
Please see above for general instructions on submitting materials to CTED.
CTED requests a signed, dated copy of the adopting ordinance or resolution, which demonstrates legislative action was completed. Jurisdictions should also submit a copy of the comprehensive plan or development regulation amendment adopted.
CTED accepts a scanned copy of the ordinance by e-mail, or send a final copy by mail. One copy of the final, signed materials is sufficient if mailed.