Created in 1977, the Short Course provides basic information on planning in Washington through in-person trainings and webinars hosted by Commerce. Some of these trainings are mandatory for elected officials in our state, and the page includes everything elected officials need to complete these requirements. All courses are free and open to the public.
The Short Course on Local Planning includes:
- An overview of the complex mix of land use planning laws that work together to support land-use decision-making in Washington state.
- An introduction to comprehensive planning and plan implementation under the Growth Management Act.
- A review of the roles in planning and best practices for public participation.
- Mandatory training on the Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act for local government officials.
Attend a Short Course
Regular Short Courses are held online, but we do provide in-person training at events or by the request of local cities and counties. Please contact us if you need a speaker for an event in Washington. If you can’t attend an event or an online course, we invite you to view the videos on this webpage. You can download a certificate of completion and call the short course coordinator if you have any questions about content.
Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Schedule
In-person courses
Commerce is holding two in-person Short Courses in October at the annual APA Washington conference and the annual IACC conference. Conference attendance is not required to attend the Short Course.
Commerce in-person Short Courses are held at the request of a city or county in Washington state, or at the request of one of our sponsors. Sponsor requests often focus on annual conferences and other events.
American Planning Association of Washington Annual Conference
- APA WA Conference webpage
- Course location: The Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue, WA 98004
- Course Date/Time: October 16, 2024 from 6 – 8:00 p.m.
- Course registration (Google Forms)
Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council conference
- IACC Conference webpage
- Course location: Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 North Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, WA, 98801
- Course Date/Time: October 22, 2024 from 6 – 8:00 p.m.
- Course registration (smartsheet)
*Special Events: You are not required to register for the event to attend the Short Course. If you are attending the event, we ask that you register for the Short Course separately using the registration provided.
Online courses
To register for online courses, please use the link provided in the list of course dates on this webpage. Registrants will receive an emailed link to a Zoom meeting and a copy of the handouts. There is no cost to attend the Short Course.
Date | Location | Time | Registration |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 | Online | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. | Register for the Sept. 26, 2024 Short Course (on Zoom) |
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 | Online | 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Register for the Nov. 14, 2024 Short Course (on Zoom) |
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 | Online | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. | Register for the Dec. 17, 2024 Short Course (on Zoom) |
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 | Online | 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Register for the Jan. 21, 2025 Short Course (on Zoom) |
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 | Online | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. | Register for the Feb. 20, 2025 Short Course (on Zoom) |
Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025 | Online | 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Register for the Mar. 19, 2025 Short Course (on Zoom) |
Course materials and resources
Course Materials
- A Short Course on Local Planning: Resource Guide (295 pages, 2017) (PDF)
- Short Course Video Study Guide (PDF)
- Short Course Certificate (PDF)
- OPMA Certificate (PDF)
Information for Elected and Appointed Officials
Basic Short Course Videos (2015)
- Introduction to the Short Course. 5 minutes
- Comprehensive Planning Basics. 11 minutes
- Implementing Your Plan. 10 minutes
- Updating Your Plan. 10 minutes
- Washington’s Legal Framework for Land Use Planning. 7 minutes
- Constitutional Issues and Other Protections. 8 minutes
- Roles and Responsibilities in Planning. 7 minutes
- Public Participation and Effective Meetings. 7 minutes
- Open Public Meetings Act. 27 minutes
- Appearance of Fairness Doctrine. 17 minutes
Basic Short Course on Local Planning (Kirkland 05/23/2023)
- Full Short Course Video (YouTube) – 174 minutes
A Basic Short Course on Local Planning (Marysville 1/25/2012)
- Short Course 1: Basic Introduction. 4 minutes
- Short Course 2: Legal Presentation. 78 minutes
- Short Course 3: Comprehensive Planning. 28 minutes
- Short Course 4: Planning Roles and Citizen Participation. 42 minutes
Special Topic – Short Course Videos
Housing
- A Short Course on Housing Affordability, April 14, 2020 – Hosted by the City of Dayton
- Also watch the July 2020 Housing Action Plan guidance webinar.
Infill Development for Small Cities – Recorded at Tumwater City Hall, 5/28/2014
- Infill Development 1: Infill Development and the Big Picture. 21 minutes
- Infill Development 2: Regulatory Tools for Infill Development. 31 minutes
- Infill Development 3: Incentives for Infill Development. 31 minutes
- Infill Development 4: Local Examples of Infill Planning and Development from the Cities of Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey. 51 minutes
- Infill Development 5: Local Infill Development Projects. 18 minutes
Sustainable Development – Recorded at Lacey City Hall, 11/12/2013
- Sustainable Development 1: An introduction to the short course and the reasons planning for sustainable communities is important. 20 minutes
- Sustainable Development 2: An overview of the development of the Sustainable Thurston regional plan including presentations from local government officials and other entities on implementing the plan. 74 minutes
- Sustainable Development 3: Examples from two cities on their plans for sustainability. This segment features speakers from Mountlake Terrace and Redmond. 38 minutes
Economic Development
- 9/18/2020 – Recorded by the Planning Association of Washington
- 3/14/2013 – Recorded at Fife Dacca Barn
- Economic Development 1: An introduction to the short course. 2 minutes
- Economic Development 2: Innovative ideas for economic development. 41 minutes
- Economic Development 3: Legal primer on planning and development in Washington. 43 minutes
- Economic Development 4: The New Economy and implications for community planning. 30 minutes
Urban Forestry – Recorded at Western Washington University, 11/28/2012
- Urban Forestry 1: An introduction to the short course. 4 minutes
- Urban Forestry 2: The process and basics of comprehensive planning. 19 minutes
- Urban Forestry 3: Benefits of trees, current regulations, and programs. 35 minutes
- Urban Forestry 4: Installation, maintenance, and program management. 41 minutes
- Urban Forestry 5: Integrating urban forestry with comprehensive planning. 11 minutes
Short Course Sponsors
Planning Association of Washington
Dedicated to planning education, PAW founded the Short Course in 1977. While Commerce took over in 1980, PAW has continued to provide direct financial support and volunteers since creating the course more than 40 years ago.
Washington Cities Insurance Authority
The WCIA started sponsoring the Short Course in 2009. Recognizing the benefits it had for cities by reducing liability in land use decision making, WCIA provides financial support annually to the program.
American Planning Association – Washington Chapter
APA Washington started sponsoring the Short Course in 2014. Seeking greater educational opportunities and planning support for Washington state, APA provides direct financial support and its members are frequent volunteers for the Short Course program.
Association of Washington Cities – Risk Management Service Agency
The RMSA portion of Association of Washington Cities started sponsoring the Short Course in 2015. Similar to WCIA, RMSA recognized the benefits Short Course training had for cities in reducing liability in land use decision making. RMSA contributes annually to the Short Course program.