Rulemaking Notice: Commerce finalizes climate planning rules
Rules will take effect Jan. 24, 2026
The Department of Commerce has filed final rules (CR-103) to conclude a multi-year effort to guide communities to establish the first Climate Element under the Growth Management Act (GMA). GMS began rulemaking in January 2024 and worked in partnership across the state to implement Chapter 228, Laws of 2023 (HB 1181), which established the new climate change and resilience planning requirements.
The final rules take effect Jan. 24, 2026 and include revisions to:
- Chapter 365-195 WAC, Best Available Science
- Chapter 365-196 WAC, Procedural Criteria for Adopting Comprehensive Plans and Development Regulations
With these rules finalized, Commerce can also finalize climate planning guidance. This is critical for communities that must update their comprehensive plans to incorporate the new climate element, for fully planning cities and counties that must create a resilience sub-element, and for the communities that must or choose to pursue a greenhouse gas reduction sub-element.
Relevant documents:
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