Introduction to the Shoreline Management Act

Page Contents: Where does the SMA apply? l Policies of the SMA l Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) l Constitutional Authority and Limitations

Washington’s Shoreline Management Act (SMA) was passed by the State Legislature in 1971 and adopted by the public in a 1972 referendum. The overarching goal of the SMA is "to prevent the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and piecemeal development of the state’s shorelines."

Download handout on the SMA (PDF file)

Where does the SMA apply?

The SMA applies to all 39 counties and more than 200 cities that have "shorelines of the state" (see RCW 90.58.030(2)) within their jurisdictional boundaries. These shorelines are defined as:

all marine waters;
streams with greater than 20 cubic feet per second mean annual flow;
lakes 20 acres or larger;
upland areas called shorelands that extend 200 feet landward from the edge of these waters; and
the following areas when they are associated with one of the above:
- biological wetlands and river deltas; and
- some or all of the 100-year floodplain including all wetlands within the 100-year floodplain.

The SMA also states that "the interests of all the people shall be paramount in the management of shorelines of statewide significance." These shorelines are defined in the SMA as:

Pacific Coast, Hood Canal and certain Puget Sound shorelines;
all waters of Puget Sound and the Straight of Juan de Fuca;
lakes or reservoirs with a surface acreage of 1,000 acres or more;
larger rivers (1,000 cubic feet per second or greater for rivers in Western Washington, 200 cubic feet per second and greater east of the Cascade crest); and
wetlands associated with all the above.

More information on the geographic areas subject to the SMA is found under "Jurisdiction."

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Policies of the SMA

There are three basic policy areas to the Shoreline Management Act: shoreline use, environmental protection and public access. The SMA emphasizes accommodation of reasonable and appropriate uses, protection of shoreline environmental resources and protection of the public's right to access and use the shorelines (see RCW 90.58.020).

Shoreline use: The SMA establishes the concept of preferred uses of shoreline areas. The Act requires that "uses shall be preferred which are consistent with control of pollution and prevention of damage to the natural environment, or are unique to or dependent upon use of the states' shorelines...” . "Preferred" uses include single family residences, ports, shoreline recreational uses, water dependent industrial and commercial developments and other developments that provide public access opportunities. To the maximum extent possible, the shorelines should be reserved for "water-oriented" uses, including "water-dependent", "water-related" and "water-enjoyment" uses.

The Act affords special consideration to Shorelines of Statewide Significance that have greater than regional importance. Preferred uses for Shorelines of Statewide Significance, in order of priority, are to "recognize and protect the state wide interest over local interest; preserve the natural character of the shoreline; result in long term over short term benefit; protect the resources and ecology of the shoreline; increase public access to publicly owned shoreline areas; and increase recreational opportunities for the public in the shoreline area."

Environmental protection: The SMA is intended to protect shoreline natural resources, including "...the land and its vegetation and wildlife, and the water of the state and their aquatic life..." against adverse effects. All allowed uses are required to mitigate adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent feasible and preserve the natural character and aesthetics of the shoreline.
Public access: Master programs must include a public access element making provisions for public access to publicly owned areas, and a recreational element for the preservation and enlargement of recreational opportunities.

The overarching policy is that “the public’s opportunity to enjoy the physical and aesthetic qualities of natural shorelines of the state shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible consistent with the overall best interest of the state and the people generally. “Alterations of the natural conditions of the shorelines of the state, in those limited instances when authorized, shall be given priority for…development that will provide an opportunity for substantial numbers of people to enjoy the shorelines of the state.”

The SMA also implements the common law Public Trust Doctrine. The essence of this court doctrine is that the waters of the state are a public resource for the purposes of navigation, conducting commerce, fishing, recreation and similar uses and that this trust is not invalidated by private ownership of the underlying land. The doctrine limits public and private use of tidelands and other shorelands to protect to public's right to use the waters of the state.

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Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs)

Under the SMA each city and county with "shorelines of the state" must adopts a Shoreline Master Program (SMP) that is based on state laws and rules but tailored to the specific geographic, economic and environmental needs of the community. The SMP is essentially a shoreline comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance with a distinct environmental orientation applicable to shoreline areas and customized to local circumstances.

The SMA establishes a balance of authority between local and state government. Cities and counties are the primary regulators. Ecology acts primarily in a support and review capacity, but is required to approve certain kinds of permits (conditional use and variance permits) and must approve new or amended shoreline master programs.

Local governments may modify master programs to reflect changing local circumstances, new information, or improved shoreline management approaches. All changes to master programs require public involvement. At a minimum, local governments must hold public hearings. Substantial revisions are usually written with help from citizen advisory committees.

Ecology provides technical assistance to all local governments undertaking master program amendments. Ecology also provides grants (approximately $400,000 a year) to local governments within the state’s Coastal Zone (jurisdictions within the 15 counties with saltwater shorelines).

Most shoreline master programs were originally written between 1974 and 1978. Since then, approximately 25% of these programs have been significantly updated; 50% have only had minor amendments, and 25% have never been amended.

Master program amendments are effective only after Ecology approval. In reviewing master programs, Ecology is limited to a decision on whether or not the proposed changes are consistent with the policy and provisions of the SMA and the state master program guidelines.

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Constitutional authority and limitations

The Constitution of the state and the U.S. Constitution provide both the authority for conducting the activities necessary to carry out the Shoreline Management Act and significant limitations on that authority.

The basic authority comes from the police power provision. This allows the state government and, by delegation from the state, local government, to adopt and enforce laws to protect the public health, safety and general welfare.

Limitations are set by state and federal constitutional "due process" and "takings" provisions:

"Due process" limitations: Government activities that constrain private options have to be conducted according to a set of rules that assures an opportunity for participation by the affected parties. The Shoreline Management Act and local shoreline master programs comply with this requirement by establishing extensive rules for public participation in the process of making rules (i.e. adopting and amending SMPs) and deciding on individual permits. In addition to establishing rules, adherence to the rules in the decision making process is fundamental to assuring that any decision will withstand legal challenge.

"Takings:" The constitution prohibits the government from taking private property without compensation. The meaning of this provision is perhaps the most debated issue in land use law. Its meaning is clear in cases of condemnation or other acquisition for public use; government must pay the fair market value. It is also reasonably clear from case law that most common forms of regulations that impose limitations on the use of property, do not require compensation, even where there may be a significant diminishment of property value, so long as the regulation is reasonably related to protection of legitimate public interests.

However, the courts have indicated that there is a point where use limitations on an individual piece of property require compensation. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Commission determined that a regulation that had the effect of “eliminating all economic use” was a “taking” of that property. (Note: Also see Orion Corporation v. State of Washington, 109 Wn.2d 621, 747 P.2d 1062)

The Shoreline Management Act addresses the takings issue by identifying the public purposes served by its implementation and by requiring appropriate flexibility in its implementation. Individual master programs also need to be drafted with the takings issue in mind and every permit decision must be made within a framework that factors in takings considerations.

See also Public Trust Doctrine

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