GMS is updating administrative rules for the Growth Management Act to address recent legislation on housing, permitting, development regulations, urban growth areas, and rural development. Rulemaking will reflect recommendations in the technical guidance that GMS developed to support local government planning for increased densities, housing types, and considerations of displacement, exclusion and racially disparate impacts in local housing policies. 

• Current notice: CR101 intent for rulemaking (PDF)
• Current update webpage: GMA Housing Rulemaking

Completed Rulemaking

The Department of Commerce adopted changes to Chapter 365-190, Chapter 365-195, and Chapter 365-196 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) on March 29, 2023.

Commerce initiated the rulemaking process on December 29, 2020 and worked with state agencies, local governments, tribal governments, and other stakeholders to develop a project scope and consider proposed changes to our administrative rules. Commerce hosted listening sessions in 2021 to discuss the project scope on June 30, July 19, July 26 and July 28. Commerce hosted public meetings in 2021 to review preliminary changes on December 1, December 8, December 9 and December 13. After making changes based on public feedback, GMS held two public hearings in 2022 on July 26 and July 27.