Click the link below to see the project page for the Agritourism code updates:
Community Planning
Planning and Development Services | Community Planning
What is Community Planning?
Planning and Development Services coordinates long‑range community planning by developing and regularly updating the County’s Comprehensive Plan, development regulations, Capital Facilities Plan, and zoning map to ensure that county plans and policies are up to date, align with state laws, and reflect local values. Skagit County's long-range planning projects are developed with meaningful participation and input from the public, and recommendations from the Skagit County's advisory boards and the Planning Commission. The Skagit County's Board of County Commissioners decides whether to approve or deny all long-range planning projects.
To learn more about the Planning Commission or see their schedule and meeting agendas, please click the link below:
Interested in amending the Skagit County Code, Comprehensive Plan, or rezoning your property? Click below for more information on how to submit a Docket Petition:
Below are a list of active projects, adopted plans, subarea plans and archived projects from recent years.
Archived Completed Projects
2026 Miscellaneous Code Amendments
2025 Comprehensive Plan Update
Click the link below to see the project page for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update:
2024 Amendments Regarding Major Electrical Utility Developments in Ag-NRL Zone
- Ordinance #O20240008 Adopting SCC 14.16.400(4)(h); Regarding Major Electrical Utility Developments on Ag-NRL Zone Land Amendment
- Board of Skagit County Commissioners Staff Report (10/29/2024)
- Planning Commission Ag-NRL Utilities Amendment Recommendation and Recorded Motion
- Planning Commission Deliberations - Ag-NRL Utilities Amendment | Transcript | Video
- Ag-NRL Utilities Amendment Presentation Slide Deck (10/8/24)
- October 7, 2024 Supplemental Planning Commission Staff Report
- 2024 Proposed Draft Amendment Regarding Utilities on Ag-NRL
- Staff Report to Planning Commission regarding Major Electrical Utility Developments on Ag-NRL zone land
- Notice of Availability
- SEPA Checklist
- SEPA DNS
Seawater Intrusion Amendment in Sole Source Aquifers
The Growth Management Act requires that cities and counties designate and protect critical areas, including aquifer recharge areas, using best available science. This petition would require county review prior to drilling a well in a sole source aquifer (SSA) area with documented seawater intrusion. Guemes Island is the only area which is currently designated a sole source aquifer (SSA) in Skagit County and has documented issues of seawater intrusion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is who designates sole source aquifers (SSA). The petition will add language to SCC 14.24.380(2) to require the following information listed in SCC 14.24.380(2)(a) to be submitted to the Department prior to drilling any new well in a sole source aquifer:
- A site plan, including:
- A dedicated inland well site location;
- Estimated depth of proposed well;
- An estimated land elevation of the well, except that if the well is within 250 feet of the shoreline, or if determined a hydrogeologist engaged or employed by the County, the elevation of the well must be surveyed by a licensed surveyor; and
- Depth and chloride levels of surrounding wells;
- A drilling plan; and
- Payment of applicable fees
Relevant Documents
- An Ordinance Adopting the Guemes Island Seawater Intrusion Amendments (7/23/2024)
- Planning Commission Deliberations – Guemes Island Seawater Intrusion Amendment (6/11/2024) | Transcript
• Planning Commission Seawater Intrusion Recommendation and Recorded Motion
• Supplemental Staff Report: Seawater Intrusion Amendment (June 4, includes public comment summary and supplemental information)
• Attachment 1 - Staff Memorandum: Seawater Intrusion Amendment (April 16th)
• Attachment 2 – Complied Seawater Intrusion Public Comments
• Attachment 3 – Guemes Island Seawater Intrusion Amendment
• Seawater Intrusion Proposed Amendment
• Seawater Intrusion Deliberations PowerPoint Slide Deck
• Growth Management Hearings Board Case: Olympic Environmental Council v. Jefferson County - Planning Commisision Public Hearing Guemes Seawater Intrusion Amendment Transcript (5/28/2024)
- Notice of Availability (5/2/2024)
- Staff Memorandum: Seawater Intrusion Amendment
- Seawater Intrusion Proposed Amendment
- Seawater Intrusion PowerPoint
Archived Annual Dockets
Board of County Commissioners Docketing
- Resolution 20240089: Establishing the 2024 Docket of Proposed Policy, Code, and Map Amendments
- Public Comments (Compiled and Posted 5/8/2024)
- Memorandum: Deliberation 2024 Docket (5/7/2024)
- Notice of Availability (Posted 4/2/24)
- Memorandum: 2024 Planning Docket
Relevant Documents
- Memo: Planning Commission’s Recorded Motion on the 2024 Planning Docket
- Planning Commision: Exhibit A: Recorded Motion
- Staff Report: 2024 Comprehensive Plan, Map, and Development Regulation amendments
- 2024 Docket Staff Report- Summary of Public Comments Received for the 2024 Annual Docket
- NOA Skagit County’s 2024 Docket of Proposed Policy, Code, and Map Amendments
- Determination of Non-Significance (DNS)
- SEPA Environmental Checklist
- Deception Pass Rezone (DNS)
- Deception Pass Rezone SEPA Environmental Checklist
- Planning Commission Work Session Transcript (9/10/24)
- 2024 Docket Amendments (9/10/2024)
- 2024 Docket Staff Report - Planning Commission Work Session (9/10/2024)
- PowerPoint: 2024Docket, Planning Commission Work Session (9/10/2024)
Board of County Commissioners Final Review and Adoption
Other Adopted Plans
2009 UGA Open Space Concept Plan
The Board of Commissioners adopted the plan in September 2009 by Ordinance O20090009. It is available below in four parts:
