Shoreline buffers, as defined in Chapter 35.55 CCC, help protect people and property from natural hazards that are present on some shorelines. Shoreline buffers also protect and provide shoreline habitat, water quality, and other ecological functions from the adverse impacts of adjacent land use and development. Retention and restoration of buffers and the functions they provide, especially native vegetation buffers, help to stabilize coastal areas and streambanks and achieve no net loss of shoreline ecological functions. As a result, this chapter establishes policies and regulations for shoreline buffer widths and the allowed alterations and uses of such buffers. In addition, this chapter and other provisions of this Program also promote vegetation conservation within buffers and the shoreline jurisdiction including restrictions on clearing and grading, while providing for vegetation restoration and enhancement, and control of invasive weeds and non-native species.

Unless otherwise stated, buffer and vegetation conservation regulations of this Program do not apply to those activities covered under the Washington State Forest Practices Act, except for conversion of forest uses to other uses and those other forest practices over which the County has authority. Like other Program provisions (see Article I of Chapter 35.25 CCC), buffer and vegetation conservation standards do not apply retroactively to legally established existing uses and structures.

All new shoreline uses and developments shall comply with the shoreline buffer and vegetation conservation policies and regulations in this chapter. New uses and developments may also be subject to additional buffers and vegetation conservation standards prescribed in Chapter 35.35 CCC due to the presence of critical areas such as wetlands, streams, habitat conservation areas (e.g., endangered or threatened species habitats), geologically hazardous areas (e.g., landslide hazard areas, channel migration zones), and other critical areas located within the shoreline jurisdiction.