The City of Bellingham takes the protection of environmentally sensitive areas very seriously. In all of our Community Planning, the environment is a consideration. In addition to existing county, state and federal regulations, the documents below are key to Bellingham's local environmental regulations.
Critical Areas Ordinance: Rules that protect wetlands, streams and other sensitive environmental resources.
Shoreline Master Program: Policies and rules for developing in Bellingham's shorelines. This document is currently in the process of being updated.
Silver Beach Ordinance (PDF): An ordinance that regulates development in the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
Stormwater Comprehensive Plan: Plan to manage stormwater in the various watersheds inside Bellingham.
Stormwater Management Program: How the City of Bellingham meets the requirements of its municipal stormwater permit.
2004 Environmental Impact Statement: Done as part of the update to the Comprehensive Plan, this document analyzed the potential impact of various methods (infill, sprawl, combination) for how Bellingham might accommodate projected growth over the next 20 years.
