The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) is a Washington state law that requires state and local governments to manage Washington's growth by identifying and protecting critical areas and natural resource lands, designating urban growth areas, preparing comprehensive plans and implementing them through capital investments and development regulations.
Rather than centralize planning and decision-making at the state level, the GMA focuses on local control.
Within the framework provided by the mandates of the Act, local governments have many choices regarding the specific content of comprehensive plans and implementing development regulations.
This act requires all cities with a population greater than 25,000 allow development of duplexes on all lots and fourplexes within a quarter-mile of a major transit stop or if one of the units is affordable.
There are stricter requirements for cities with a population greater than 75,000: fourplexes everywhere and sixplexes within a quarter-mile of a major transit stop or if two units are affordable.