2026 Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Update

San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections with support of a consultant team from Facet LLC. The County is required to protect five different kinds of critical areas and, because the protection regulations are adopted as ordinances, they are known by the generic singular ‘CAO’ or plural term, ‘CAOs’.

All counties, cities, and towns in Washington State planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) are required to periodically review and update the CAO regulations. San Juan County’s CAO was adopted most recently in 2013 and implemented in 2014. The County needs to update its CAO to be compliant with GMA standards and be more eligible for some grant funding. The County's goal is to adopt an updated CAO by March of 2026.

The CAO update process includes:

• Implementing a public participation plan
• Reviewing and incorporating changes in the GMA into the CAO
• Reviewing, updating, and analyzing the relevant scientific data
• Hosting Planning Commission work sessions and hearings
• Presenting at County Council meetings and hearings