Shoreline Management

The Green/Duwamish River runs 93 miles from the Cascades to Elliott Bay, with 13 miles flowing through Tukwila’s industrial, commercial, and residential areas. Over time, development has reshaped the river—forests were cleared, levees built, and waterways altered. In response to the resulting environmental impacts, state and federal regulations now require stronger habitat protection, stormwater management, and restoration efforts.

To meet these requirements and guide future growth along the river, Tukwila adopted a comprehensive set of local policies and regulations. These are outlined in the City’s Shoreline Master Program and Comprehensive Plan, supported by zoning standards.

Most projects within 200 feet of the shoreline require a  Shoreline Substantial Development Permit. These rules aim to balance development with protection and restoration of the river’s ecology.

• Shoreline Master Program (Ordinance 2626)
• Shoreline Master Program – Appendix A: Shoreline Inventory and Characterization Report
  
• Shoreline Master Program – Appendix B: Shoreline Restoration Plan
  
• Shoreline Regulations (Ordinance 2627)
• Critical Areas Regulations (Ordinance 2625)

Historic Documents

• Periodic Update FAQs
• TMC 18.45 Critical Areas Ordinance – Public Review Draft 3-14-19 Strikeout
• Summary of Key Revisions to TMC 18.45 Critical Areas Ordinance
• Final SMP Update Public Outreach Plan
• SMP Gap Analysis Report
• Shoreline Environment Map
• Matrix of Planning Commission Changes to 18.44 Public Review Draft
• Matrix of Planning Commission Changes to SMP Public Review Draft
• E18-0011 SMP DNS
• SMP PC Recommended Draft 4-25-19
• SMP PC Recommended Draft Strikeout 4-25-19
• TMC 18.44 PC Recommended Draft 4-25-19

Partners in Shoreline Management

• King County Watershed Resource Inventory Area 9 (WRIA 9)
• Washington State Department of Ecology
• Forterra
• EarthCorps
• Duwamish Alive