Suggest a Rezone, Policy or Regulatory Code Amendment

Planning and Development Services

Suggest a Rezone, Policy or Regulatory Code Amendment

The Growth Management Act at RCW 36.70A.470(2) allows any interested person, including applicants, citizens, hearing examiners, and staff of other agencies, to request amendments to the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan/Zoning Map or suggest Comprehensive Plan policy amendments or development regulation amendments. SCC Chapter 14.08 governs the process for docketing of policy, map, and code amendments.

This process applies to Skagit County Comprehensive Plan and regulations contained in Skagit County Code Title 14.

There are two different kinds of changes that are reviewed by the Planning Commission:

Rezones

These are site-specific changes to the Comprehensive Plan/Zoning map. All rezones go through the public process:

Board of County Commissioners for a public hearing.
If docketed, the applicant will be asked to provide an environmental checklist for a SEPA threshold review.
The proposal then goes to the Planning Commission for a review, hearing, and deliberation. This is considered a quasi-judicial proposal.
The proposed change will be evaluated based on the evidence and exhibits provided as compared to the specific criteria found in Skagit County Code 14.08.060 and the Comprehensive Plan.
The Planning Commission recommendation then goes back to the Board of County Commissioner for final action.

The application cost to do this is listed in the unified fee schedule.

Comprehensive Plan Policy or
Development Regulation Amendment

These changes apply to all areas of a certain zone type or code regulation, not a specific property. These amendments go through the public process:

Board of County Commissioners for a public hearing.
If docketed it then goes to Planning Commission for a review, hearing, and deliberation.
The Planning Commission’s recommendation then goes back to the Board of County Commissioner for final action.

The application cost to do this is listed in the unified fee schedule.

Since Comprehensive plan amendments (including rezones) are only heard once per year this process often takes two years to complete.

Proposals are due by the last business day of July for docketing

Requests received after that date will not be considered until the following year’s docket. Docketing is procedural only and does not constitute a decision by the Board of County Commissioners as to whether the amendment will ultimately be approved. Amendments are usually concluded by the end of the year following the request. State law generally prohibits the County from amending its Comprehensive Plan more than once per year.

To submit a docket petition, please visit the County’s Civic Access Permit Portal linked below:

Civic Access Permit Portal