Review the Critical Areas Ordinance update at community meeting on April 6

A first draft of the updated regulation is now available for public comment, and the Department of Community Development (DCD) is holding a community meeting to accept feedback and walk residents through the documents.

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

San Juan County is updating its critical areas protections, also referred to as the Critical Areas Ordinance or CAO, and the public is invited to comment on the first draft. 

The CAO serves as key regulation to ensure that development does not harm water quality, groundwater recharge, wetlands, and some fish and wildlife habitats. The CAO includes regulations for tree protection zones, water quality buffers, and prescribed development standards within flood zones and geohazards. A first draft of the updated regulation is now available for public comment, and the Department of Community Development (DCD) is holding a community meeting to accept feedback and walk residents through the documents. 

• WHAT: Community meeting to review the first draft of Critical Areas Ordinance Regulations   
• WHEN: Monday, April 6, 2026, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.    
• WHERE: Online via Microsoft Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/25621791364907?p=WUqaMrQ74rh73BuwY3 ; Or via phone:  +1 360-726-3293,,360041604# United States, Vancouver; Phone conference ID: 360 041 604# 
• WHO: All residents interested in the County’s updated Critical Areas Ordinance regulations. 
• WHY: To share information, listen to the community, answer questions, and collect feedback.   

Access the First Draft of Critical Areas Ordinance Regulations Update

A first draft of the updated regulation is now available for public comment. You can access the documents here: 

• View the clean draft regulations here: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/documentcenter/View/34527/2026-02-11_DRAFT_CAO_REGULATIONS_Clean_
• View the track changes draft regulations here: https://sanjuancountywa.gov//DocumentCenter/View/34533/2026-02-11_DRAFT_CAO_REGULATIONS_Tracked-Changes-
• View the proposed changes to code term definitions here: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34528/2026-02-11_SJCC-1820-Critical-Area-Definitions
• View the Crosswalk between BAS and the proposed changes here: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34529/2026-02-11_BAS-Crosswalk_SJC-CAO_ 

Submit comments online or email them to Colin Maycock, Planner IV, at colinm@sanjuancountywa.gov  

Background 

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 again to be compliant with GMA standards and be more eligible for certain grant funding. The County’s goal is to adopt an updated CAO by May of 2026. Check the County’s project webpage for ongoing information: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/2026-critical-areas-ordinance-cao-update   

Questions and comments should be directed to Colin Maycock, Planner IV, at colinm@sanjuancountywa.gov.  

About San Juan County’s Department of Community Development 

San Juan County’s Department of Community Development is responsible for building permits and inspections, code enforcement, land use designations, long-range planning, and more. The department’s main office is located at 135 Rhone Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Community Development, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1778/Community-Development.