Comprehensive Plan – Periodic Update Grants

The Governor and the Legislature made a historic investment in Growth Management Act planning during the 2022 Legislative Session. As a result, we expect to provide grant funding to all counties, and cities within those counties, in advance of their upcoming comprehensive plan and development regulation “periodic updates,” required under RCW 36.70A.130(5). 

Funding is Available Under the Following Formula

Grants are available to counties and cities based on fully planning or partially planning status under the GMA, as well as population:

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

Starting July 1, 2022, counties and cities with a 2024 deadline are eligible to receive the first half of their grant, with the second half coming the following year. Subject to continuing legislative appropriation, Commerce intends to provide these same grant amounts to all counties and cities throughout the update cycle, with due dates from 2024 through 2027, under RCW 36.70A.130(5)(a)-(d). Grants should be available for all jurisdictions starting two years before the statutory deadlines for review and revision, established under RCW 36.70A.130(5).

Grant Requirements

Periodic update grant award notifications and instructions are currently being distributed to counties and cities with 2024 updates. Over the course of the next month, Commerce will work with you to finalize the grant agreements. Jurisdictions are eligible to request grant reimbursement for all periodic update grant work, defined in the grants agreements, beginning July 1, 2022. The second half of this grant is scheduled for the following state fiscal year (beginning July 1, 2023). 

Application Materials

Local agency representatives can select the following links to see the Application Instructions (PDF) and the Grant Application (Word).  

Note: Buildable Land Reports & GMA Implementation Reports

In addition to the required periodic update, seven counties (Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom), and the cities within these counties, must also complete a review and evaluation program for buildable lands (i.e. the Buildable Lands Report) every eight years under RCW 36.70A.215.  Adding a new requirement this year, HB 1241 requires certain jurisdictions to complete an implementation progress report five years after the end of their periodic update.

Funding is expected to be available to meet those responsibilities in later years. Grants may be used for planning work in need of review, or revised for your comprehensive plan and development regulations as required to meet your periodic updates. If all of the funding is not needed to meet the update requirement, a jurisdiction can use their remaining funds for other planning work beyond the minimum requirements.