Counties and cities planning under the Growth Management Act are required to complete periodic updates to their comprehensive plans and development regulations. This page provides guidance and resources to assist local planners in preparing their periodic updates for review by Commerce.
Periodic Update interactive map
Local jurisdictions can use the interactive map to review a tailored list of resources related to their next periodic update. The data contained in the interactive map is also available in the County GMA Periodic Update document (Excel).
Periodic Update workshops
Commerce routinely hosts workshops on specific elements of the periodic update process. These workshops provide valuable opportunities for local jurisdictions to understand and meet the requirements of the periodic update.
Upcoming workshops
2027 Series – Transportation workshop
10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
Previous workshops
Critical Areas – 1 of 2
- 2027 Critical Areas Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- 2027 Critical areas workshop presentation (PDF)
2027 Periodic Update Kick-Off Workshop
2026 Series – Partially Planning Jurisdictions
- Partially planning jurisdictions workshop slides (PDF)
- Partially planning workshop video recording (Vimeo)
2026 Series – Tribal Participation in Planning
- Tribal Participation in Planning video recording (Vimeo)
- Tribal Participation in Planning workshop presentation (PDF)
2026 Series – Transportation Workshop
2026 Series – Climate Workshop
- Climate Workshop presentation (PDF)
- Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Translated versions
- Farsi – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Khmer – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Korean – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Mandarin – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Pashto – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Spanish – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Vietnamese – Climate Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- Translated versions
- AICP CM: 9303636
2026 Series – Public Engagement and Environmental Justice
- Public Engagement and Environmental Justice presentation (PowerPoint)
- Public Engagement and Environmental Justice video recording (Vimeo)
- AICP CM: 9307219
2026 Series – Capital Facilities
- Capital Facilities workshop presentation (PDF)
- Capital Facilities video recording (Vimeo)
- AICP CM: 9303674
2026 Series – Critical Areas (2 of 2)
2026 Series – Critical Areas (1 of 2)
- Critical Areas Workshop presentation (PDF)
- Critical Areas Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- AICP CM: (pending)
2026 Series – Housing Workshop
2026 Series – Kickoff event
On Final Approach – Workshop for jurisdictions due December 31, 2025
2025 Series – Capital Facilities Workshop
- Capital Facilities Workshop presentation (PDF)
- Capital Facilities Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- AICP CM: 9289119
2025 Series – Climate Workshop 1
2025 Series – Climate Workshop 2
2025 Series – Critical Areas Workshop
- Critical Areas Workshop presentation (PDF)
- Critical Areas Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- AICP CM: 9303598
2025 Series – Housing Workshop 1
2025 Series – Housing Workshop 2
2025 Series Kick-off
- Workshop recording (Vimeo)
- Periodic Update introduction (PDF)
- Commerce resources and grant’s introduction (PDF)
- Thurston Regional Planning Council introduction (PDF)
- Municipal Research and Services Center introduction (PDF)
- Commerce Housing introduction (PDF)
- Commerce Climate introduction (PDF)
2025 Series – Transportation
- Transportation workshop presentation (PDF)
- Transportation workshop video recording (Vimeo)
- AICP CM: 9303578
2025 Series – Tribal Participation in Planning Workshop
On Final Approach – Workshop for jurisdictions due December 31, 2024
- On Final Approach Workshop presentation (PowerPoint)
- On Final Approach Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
2025 Legislative Wrap-up
- Legislative Session Wrap-up workshop video (Vimeo)
- Legislative Session Wrap-up workshop slides (PDF)
Tips and Takeaways – 2024 Periodic Update
2024 Legislative Wrap-up
Growth Managment Act and Comprehensive Plan Update
Past session videos from the 2024 workshop series hosted by Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) can be found on the PSRC website.
Resources
Counties and cities planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) are required to complete periodic updates to their comprehensive plans and/or development regulations as outlined in RCW 36.70A.130(5). Periodic update grants provide funding to assist cities and counties in meeting these requirements.
Counties and cities automatically become eligible for funding based on the due date of their periodic update. Award letters detailing award amounts and application instructions are sent to eligible jurisdictions each year.
Grants are available to counties and cities based on their population and planning status, as follows:
Fully planning
- Counties with 100,000 population and over: $700,000
- Counties under 100,000 population: $350,000
- Cities with 100,000 population and over: $325,000
- Cities with 50,000 to 99,999 population: $175,000
- Cities with 3,000 to 49,999 population: $125,000
- Cities under 3,000 population: $100,000
Partially planning
- Counties with 10,000 population and over: $150,000
- Counties under 10,000 population: $100,000
- Cities (No population limits): $20,000
Current funding
Beginning July 1, 2025, counties and cities with a 2027 periodic update deadline will be eligible to receive periodic grants. Grant funding is distributed over the course of two fiscal years.
Counties and cities with a 2026 deadline who already received Year 1 grants will have their remaining grant funding split into two contracts that will extend through December 2026.
Application materials
Local governments can use the following links to apply for periodic update grants based on their periodic update due date.
- 2027 Periodic Update Grant Application (Smartsheet)
- 2027 SmartSheet Application Instructions (PowerPoint)
These manuals describe how to apply for and manage a periodic update grant:
Grant deadlines
- September 30, 2025: deadline for PUG 2026 jurisdictions to return draft Scope of Work and budget breakdown
- October 17, 2025: deadline for online application submittal for PUG 2027 jurisdictions
- January 23, 2026: Deadline for PUG 2026 and 2027 jurisdictions to sign PUG contract for FY26
GMS Contracts Team – Contract and Budget questions
- Ashley Murphy, GMS Contracts Coordinator – ashley.murphy@commerce.wa.gov
- Ashey Dofner, GMS Contracts Assistant – ashley.dofner@commerce.wa.gov
- Paul Johnson, GMS Operations Support Manager – paul.johnson@commerce.wa.gov
The Housing Planning Requirements Tool summarizes housing requirements for Washington state counties, cities, and towns under the Revised Code of Washington. It is intended to support local government staff, officials, and partners in understanding and implementing housing planning requirements in state law.
- Periodic Update Final Adoption Resolution example (PDF)
- Capital Facilities Plan: City of Wenatchee (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan: City of Des Moines (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan: Grays Harbor County (partially planning)
- Comprehensive Plan: City of West Richland (PDF)
- Critical Areas Ordinance: City of Pullman (partially planning) (PDF)
- Housing Action Plan: City of Leavenworth
- Work program: City of Tumwater (PDF)
- Scope of Work: San Juan County (PDF)
- Findings of Fact and Resolution: Spokane County (SpokaneCounty.org)
- Findings of Fact and Resolution: Pacific County (PDF)
Counties and cities must be up-to-date with the requirements of the GMA, including the periodic update requirements, to be eligible for grants and loans from certain state infrastructure programs.
Commerce maintains a list of local governments’ periodic update status and Growth Management Hearing Board orders to help applicants and funding programs implement this requirement.
See the GMA Periodic Update and GMHB Status Report (PDF).
The Status Report is advisory and is based on the most recent information available to Commerce on the date it is published. If you believe the information on the report is not accurate, please contact Mary Reinbold at Mary.Reinbold@commerce.wa.gov.