Growth Management Act Periodic Update
This page is dedicated to the Growth Management Act Periodic Update. We post checklists, guidance documents and other GMA related support materials here on a regular basis to help local governments with their reviews.

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Periodic Update Workshop Schedule
The 2025 Workshop Series is brought to you in partnership with the Thurston Regional Planning Council and the Municipal Research and Services Center.
Upcoming Workshops
- The next workshop will be on December 14, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. You must register on Zoom to attend the event. Please review the workshop flyer (PDF) for more information.
Videos and materials from previous sessions
Tribal Participation in Planning Workshop
- Workshop flyer (PDF)
- Tribal Participation workshop presentation (PDF)
- Tribal Participation workshop video recording (Vimeo)
Climate Workshop 1
Climate Workshop 2
- Workshop flyer (PDF)
- Climate Workshop #2 presentation (PDF)
- Climate Workshop #2 video recording (Vimeo)
Critical Areas Workshop
- Workshop flyer (PDF)
- Critical Areas Workshop presentation (PDF)
- Critical Areas Workshop video recording (Vimeo)
Housing Workshop
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)
Workshop Series for 2024
Past session videos from the 2024 workshop series hosted by Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) can be found on the PSRC website.
Periodic Update Resources
Every county and city in the state is required to conduct a periodic update of its comprehensive plan and development regulations, though the obligation varies depending on whether the jurisdiction is fully or partially planning (RCW 36.70A.130(1)). Growth Management Services provides resources for completing the periodic update.
- Video of Comprehensive Plan presentation to Clark County – 2023 (Video)
- Frequently Asked Questions on the Periodic Update – 2022 (PDF)
- GMA Update Schedule Map – 2023 (PDF)
- GMA Regional Planning Variations Map – 2022 (PDF)
- A Guide to the Periodic Update for Fully Planning Jurisdictions – 2022 (PDF)
- Quick Guide to Washington State Agencies – 2023 (PDF)
General Checklists
Critical Areas Regulations Checklist
Good Examples of Comprehensive Plans and Development Regulations
- 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
- Deadline Extension request: City of Mercer Island (PDF)
- Work program: City of Tumwater (PDF)
- Scope of Work: San Juan County (PDF)
- Findings of Fact and Resolution: Spokane County (bidId)
- Findings of Fact and Resolution: Pacific County (PDF)
Periodic Update Status
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. Growth Management Services maintains a list of local governments’ periodic update status and GMHB orders to help applicants and funding programs implement this requirement. When you take legislative action that meets your update requirement, make sure you send the adopting ordinance or legislation to Commerce, clearly identifying it as part of the update. This will allow Commerce to keep information about your city or county complete and up to date.
For more information and to see a list of jurisdictions, please read 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 William Simpson at william.simpson@commerce.wa.gov.
Quick Links
- Growth Management
- Governor's Smart Communities Awards
- Climate Program
- Planning for Housing
- Laws and Rules - Growth Management Act
- Periodic Updates - Growth Management Act
- Growth Management Grants
- Growth Management Topics
- Guidebooks and Resources
- Civilian-Military Compatibility
- Defense Community Compatibility
- Integrated Stormwater and Watershed Planning
- Regional Planners' Forums
- Short Course on Local Planning
- Submitting Materials to the State
- Tribal Planning Coordination
Need help?
Suzanne Austin, AICP
Senior Planner
Suzanne.Austin@commerce.wa.gov
509-407-7955
Contact your regional planner (PDF).