Healthy Community Planning

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Community planning shapes how our communities are built, which affects our physical, mental, and social health. Laws around zoning, housing, transportation, food access, availability of services, park access, and climate vulnerability all contribute to community development. These laws are made at city, county, state, and Tribal levels.

Community planning processes are complex and understanding who makes planning decisions and how change can happen is important. The structure of local governments varies across the state. For specific information about your area, visit your city, county, or Tribal government website. Public participation is essential to every step of community planning.

Planning Bodies

Cities and Towns

Cities and towns generally make decisions about land preservation and development by passing laws. These laws are called the municipal code.

For more information about your city or town, contact the following:

  • Local planning department
  • Board of commissioners or planning commission
  • Public works department
  • City council
  • Community or economic development department

Counties

Counties in Washington are all required to comply with a state planning law called the Growth Management Act (first adopted in 1990). The purpose is to help communities plan for growth, protect natural spaces, and build in an intentional way. The county-wide plan is called a Comprehensive Plan. Some counties participate in regional councils with other governments in nearby counties to plan for regional land use and transportation. Puget Sound Regional Council is one example.

A Comprehensive Plan sets goals for the following topics:

  • Urban growth
  • Reduce sprawl
  • Transportation
  • Housing
  • Economic development
  • Property rights
  • Permits
  • Natural resource industries
  • Open space and recreation
  • Environment
  • Citizen participation and coordination
  • Public facilities and services
  • Historic preservation
  • Climate change planning requirements (limited counties)

Tribes

Tribes are sovereign nations and actively plan for their own land use, environmental sustainability, economic development, climate resilience, and more. Tribal planning is grounded in Tribal governance, sovereignty, and treaty rights. While Tribes are not generally subject to the Growth Management Act that applies to cities and counties, many develop their own Comprehensive Plan. Tribes are also involved in government-to-government consultation when counties are developing their own Comprehensive Plan.

While many counties consult with Tribes about Comprehensive Plans, there is no Tribal coordination element of the Growth Management Act (GMA). A law passed in 2022 amending the GMA (RCW 36.70A) and adding new requirements for cities, counties, and state agencies to coordinate with Tribes on planning. It is essential that local governments participate in government-to-government consultation with Tribes because Tribal citizens live in communities all across the state.

Action Steps

Community Members 

Learn more about planning in your community and across Washington:

  • Contact your local government
    • Contact your city, county, or regional councils for information about planning decisions, and codes that shape built environments in your community.
    • Washington State Tribal members can contact their Tribal government or planning department.
  • Read your city’s, county’s, or Tribe’s Comprehensive Plan, zoning laws, and public notices for land use actions to understand projects happening in your community.
  • Visit the Washington State Department of Commerce webpage for information about planning and related resources at state and local levels.

Local Health Jurisdictions and Tribal Governments

  • We encourage health professionals at local health jurisdictions and Tribes to build relationships with your planning departments, learn more about planning decisions affecting your community, and find opportunities to collaborate.
  • The Built Environment Team co-leads the Safe and Healthy Communities Core Team through Foundational Public Health Services. The Core Team focuses on building capacity and cross-agency relationships to bring health to the table in county planning. If you are an LHJ interested in learning more about this effort, please contact us at BuiltEnvironment@doh.wa.gov.

Built Environment topics include: neighborhood conditions, transportation, food access, parks and green space, healthy community planning, and funding opportunities.

Resources