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The Growth Management Act limits amendments to the comprehensive plan (the Bellingham Plan) to once a year. The City Council establishes the docket of proposed comprehensive plan amendments after conducting a committee meeting and considering the recommendations of staff and materials submitted by applicants.
Requests to amend the comprehensive plan are generally submitted to the Planning Department by April 1st of each year. Private requests for docketing items were suspended by City Council for 2024 and 2025 while the City completed the periodic update to the comprehensive plan. That work is now completed, and City resources are now focused on implementation of the actions called for in the Mayor’s Executive Order on Housing and related state-mandated regulatory changes.
Bellingham is accepting docket requests for the 2026-2027 amendment cycle while acknowledging that limited resources mean priority will be given to requests that align with the 2026 work program. Applications for this cycle will be accepted through April 30, 2026.
Potential applicants should be aware that Bellingham’s 2026 work program includes significant changes to residential zoning and related development regulations. These changes will align the City’s regulations with the recently adopted future land use map in the Bellingham Plan. Proposals not related to residential zoning, or that do no align with the 2026 work program may be delayed for substantive work and consideration until 2027 or 2028. Consultation with City staff prior to submitting docket application materials is recommended.
Docketing requests are required to meet the minimum docketing criteria in the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) 20.20.030. Once on the annual review docket, the amendments (and rezones, if applicable) go through a Type VI process.
Comprehensive Plan and Rezone Request Application Forms
Updated forms will be posted soon!
- Process Document (PDF) (read this first)
- Docketing Application (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application (PDF)
- Rezone Application (PDF)
2022-2023 Docket
On June 6, 2022, the following applications were docketed by the City Council for review in the 2022-2023 Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle.
- REZ2022-0001: The Public Works Department requests an amendment to the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan to incorporate an updated Pedestrian Master Plan by reference. On May 20, 2024 the Bellingham City Council adopted the 2024 Pedestrian Master Plan by approving Resolution 2024-07. The updated plan will be incorporated by reference in the 2025 Periodic Update to The Bellingham Plan (comprehensive plan).
- REZ2022-0002: The Public Works Department requests an amendment to the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan to incorporate an updated Bicycle Master Plan by reference. On May 20, 2024 the Bellingham City Council adopted the 2024 Bicycle Master Plan by approving Resolution 2024-06. The updated plan will be incorporated by reference in the 2025 Periodic Update to The Bellingham Plan (comprehensive plan).
- REZ2022-0004: Talbot Real Estate, LLC requests a rezone to adopt a new Urban Village plan and Urban Village designation in Areas 13-20 and 25 in the Barkley Neighborhood.
- REZ2023-0003: The City of Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department requests a comprehensive plan amendment to consider changes to Residential Multi zoning regulations for Areas 8, 9, 13, and 18 of the Silver Beach Neighborhood to ensure they are consistent with the City’s adopted goals and policies for protection of the water quality of Lake Whatcom. (added to the annual docket by City Council on December 4, 2023 via AB 23923). On June 3, 2024 the Bellingham City Council approved Ordinance 2024-06-020 amending the Residential Multi zoning regulations for Silver Beach Areas 8, 9, and 13 from high to low density and Area 18 from medium to low density. The amendments include a special condition allowing an opportunity to increase the total unit count up to the medium density maximum via consideration and adoption of a development agreement.
On-Going Docketed Proposals
Archived Docketed Proposals
| Proposal | Year Docketed | Status | City Council Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (REZ2023-0002) | 2023 | Complete | Approve |
| Bellingham School District Rezone Request (REZ2022-0003) | 2022 | Complete | Approve |
| Rezone Request – Area 1 Samish Neighborhood (REZ2022-0006) | 2022 | Complete | Approve |
| Rezone Request – Area 1 Irongate Neighborhood (REZ2022-00012) | 2022 | Complete | Approve |
| Residential Multi Project | 2021 | Complete | Approve |
| Mobile/Manufactured Home Park Designation (REZ2020-0006) | 2020 | Complete | Approve |
| Neighborhood Parks Rezone (REZ2020-0003) | 2020 | Complete | Approve |
| Bellingham School District Capital Facilities Plan (REZ2020-0005) | 2020 | Complete | Approve |
| 2020 Surface and Stormwater Comp Plan (REZ2020-0007) | 2020 | Complete | Approve |
| Rezone Request for Area 1 of Fairhaven (REZ2020-0002) | 2020 | WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT | |
| Food Access Policies (REZ2019-0001) | 2019 | Complete | Approve |
| Parks and Recreation & Open Space (PRO) Plan (REZ2019-0002) | 2019 | Complete | Approve |
| York Neighborhood Plan – Area 1 (REZ2019-0004) | 2019 | Complete | Approve |
| Birchwood Neighborhood Plan – Area 1 (REZ2019-0003) | 2019 | WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT | |
| Samish Way Urban Village Plan (REZ2018-0003) | 2018 | Complete | Approve |
| Waterfront District Master Plan (REZ2018-0002) | 2018 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood Plan and Zoning Table – Area 4 (REZ2018-0004) | 2018 | EXPIRED – Deadline not met by applicant | |
| Mobile Homes _Manufactured Home Parks (REZ2018-0005) | 2018 | Complete | Approve |
| Comprehensive Plan Update | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Barkley Neighborhood | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Cordata Neighborhood – Area 20 | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Cordata Neighborhood – Area 9 | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood – Ashley Way | 2014 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood – Area 9 | 2014 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood – Area 4 | 2014 | Complete | Approve |
| Cordata Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Cornwall Park Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Happy Valley Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Meridian Neighborhood | 2013 | Deadline not met – withdrawn | |
| Park, Recreation and Open Space Chapter | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| South Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Cornwall Park Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Edgemoor Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| King Mountain Neighborhood (Area 14A) | 2012 | Complete | Approve |
| South Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Sunnyland Neighborhood – City of Bellingham | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Sunnyland Neighborhood – Neighborhood Association | 2012 | Complete | Approve |
| Sunnyland Neighborhood – Owners | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Whatcom Falls Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Approve |
| Economic Development Chapter (Comprehensive Plan) | 2011 | Complete | Approve |
| Downtown Bellingham Plan | 2011 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood | 2011 | Complete | Deny |
| Happy Valley Neighborhood | 2011 | Complete | Deny |
| King Mountain Neighborhood (Area 13) | 2010 | Complete | Deny |
| Fairhaven Neighborhood and Urban Village Plan | 2008 | Complete | Approve |
| Sehome Neighborhood Association | 2008 | Complete | Approve |
| Bakerview/James Urban Village Master Plan | | Pending Staff Resources |
