Ordinance 4427ORDINANCE NO. 4427
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, ADOPTING VARIOUS MINOR CRITCAL
AREAS RELATED UPDATES TO THE EDMONDS CITY
CODE AND THE EDMONDS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CODE, NONE OF WHICH CONSTITUTE SUBSTANTIVE
POLICY CHANGES
WHEREAS, the city council adopted Ordinance 4295 to create a streamlined process for
updating the city code; and
WHEREAS, the streamlined process is intended for code amendments that are minor,
noncontroversial, and lacking any substantive policy changes that would require more in depth
consideration; and
WHEREAS, the amendments adopted by this ordinance have been deemed appropriate
for this new streamlined process in that no councilmember requested that any of these
amendments be removed from the streamlined process; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The definitions of “creek” and “wetlands” in ECDC 18.30.010, entitled
“Definitions,” are hereby amended to read as shown in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and
incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new text is shown in underline; deleted text is shown in
strikethrough).
Section 2. Subsection A.8, of Section 18.40.020 of the Edmonds City Code, entitled
“Prohibited rockeries,” is hereby amended to read as shown in Exhibit A, which is attached
hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new text is shown in underline; deleted text is
shown in strikethrough).
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Section 3. Subsection G of Section 19.00.025 of the Edmonds Community Development
Code, entitled “International Building Code section amendments.,” is hereby amended to read as
shown in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new
text is shown in underline; deleted text is shown in strikethrough).
Section 4. The definition of “steep slope,” in Section 19.10.020 of the Edmonds
Community Development Code, entitled “Definitions,” is hereby amended to read as shown in
Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new text is
shown in underline; deleted text is shown in strikethrough).
Section 5. Subsections H.1 and H.7 of Section 19.10.030 of the Edmonds Community
Development Code, entitled “Minimum required application submittals,” is hereby amended to
read as shown in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth
(new text is shown in underline; deleted text is shown in strikethrough).
Section 6. Subsection C.1 of Section 24.20.050 of the Edmonds Community
Development Code, entitled “Shoreline use element,” is hereby amended to read as shown in
Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new text is
shown in underline; deleted text is shown in strikethrough).
Section 7. Subsection D.4 of Section 24.30.060 of the Edmonds Community
Development Code, entitled “Shoreline residential,” is hereby amended to read as shown in
Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new text is
shown in underline; deleted text is shown in strikethrough).
Section 8. Subsection B of Section 24.40.020 of the Edmonds Community Development
Code, entitled “Critical areas,” is hereby amended to read as shown in Exhibit A, which is
Docusign Envelope ID: 09B4834A-8C7B-41F1-84CF-F53CFBAB388B
attached hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth (new text is shown in underline;
deleted text is shown in strikethrough).
Section 9. Severability. If any section, subsection, clause, sentence, or phrase of this
ordinance should be held invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance.
Section 10. Effective Date. This ordinance, being an administrative function of the city
council, is not subject to referendum and shall take effect five (5) days after passage and
publication of an approved summary thereof consisting of the title.
APPROVED:
MAYOR MIKE ROSEN
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
CITY CLERK LUKE LONIE
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY:
BY
JEFF TARADAY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: DECEMBER 31, 2025
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: JANUARY 15, 2026
PUBLISHED: JANUARY 17, 2026
EFFECTIVE DATE: JANUARY 22, 2026
ORDINANCE NO. 4427
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4
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 4427
of the City of Edmonds, Washington
On the 15th day of January, 2026, the City Council of the City of Edmonds, passed Ordinance No. 4427. A summary of the content of said ordinance, consisting of the title, provides as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, ADOPTING VARIOUS MINOR CRITCAL AREAS RELATED UPDATES TO THE EDMONDS CITY CODE AND THE EDMONDS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, NONE OF
WHICH CONSTITUTE SUBSTANTIVE POLICY
CHANGES .
The full text of this Ordinance will be mailed upon request.
DATED this 15th day of January, 2026.
CITY CLERK, LUKE LONIE
4840-7251-8158, v. 1
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Critical Areas Code Minor Amendments
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Code Reference Status of Original Code
18.30.010 Definitions
“Creek” is synonymous with “streams,” which is defined in ECDC
23.40.00523.10.030.
18.30.010 Definitions “Wetlands” means as defined in ECDC 23.40.00523.10.300(A).
18.40.020 Prohibited rockeries.
8. Rockeries are prohibited in designated geologically hazardous areas
other than erosion hazard areas as defined in Chapter 23.80 ECDC
23.10.610 ECDC and within the designated earth subsidence landslide
hazard area of North Edmonds unless as provided by ECDC
19.10.070(E).
19.00.025 International Building
Code section amendments.
G. Section 105.2, Work Exempt From
Permit, is replaced as follows:
Permits shall not be required for the following unless required by the
provisions of ECDC Title 23 or Chapter 19.10 ECDC:
1. Building (general):
…
(d) Retaining walls 4 feet (1,219 mm) in height or less measured
vertically from the finished grade at the exposed toe of the retaining wall
to the highest point in the wall, unless:
i. Supporting a surcharge; or
ii. Impounding Class I, II, III-A liquids; or
iii. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 23.150 ECDC or Chapter 23.80
ECDC.
…
(l) Grading less than fifty (50) cubic yards (placed, removed or moved
within any 365-day period) unless subject to the provisions of Chapter
23.150 ECDC or Chapter 23.80 ECDC.
19.10.020 Definitions.
“Steep slope” shall be defined and calculated pursuant to Chapter
ECDC 23.8023.10.610 ECDC.
19.10.030 Minimum required
application submittals.
H. Included in the permit submittal checklist shall be general and
specific soils and geotechnical information, details or analysis required
pursuant to IBC 1802. The applicant shall retain a geotechnical
engineer to prepare a report and evaluation of the subsurface soil
conditions on the site to include:
1. The geotechnical report shall be prepared in accordance with ECDC
23.80.05023.10.210 and ECDC 23.10.220 generally accepted
geotechnical engineering practices, under the supervision of, and
signed and stamped by, the geotechnical engineer. A geologist may be
required to be part of the geotechnical consulting staff. The report shall
reference the Landau Associates Summary Report (2007) as a technical
document reviewed as part of the geologic analysis for the project and
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Critical Areas Code Minor Amendments
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Code Reference Status of Original Code
discuss all items listed in the permit submittal checklist and shall make
specific recommendations concerning development of the site.
…
7. Geotechnical letter addressing the provisions of Chapter 23.80
23.10 ECDC.
24.20.050 Shoreline use element.
C. Shoreline Use Policies.
1. “Environmentally critical areas” are to be protected and regulated
consistent with the city’s environmental review and critical areas
regulations contained in Chapters 20.15A and 23.140 through 23.90
ECDC, less the exceptions listed in ECDC 24.40.020(C).
24.30.060 Shoreline residential.
D. Management Policies.
…
4. Steep slopes shall be protected per the requirements of Article IV.
Geologically hazardous areas of Chapter 23.80 23.10 ECDC, the
building code, and this SMP.
24.40.020 Critical areas.
B. The city of Edmonds critical area ordinance, as codified in Chapters
23.140 through 23.90 ECDC (dated May 3, 2016, Ord. 4026 and as
amended by Ord. 4106 and Ord. 4127), is herein adopted as a part of
this program, except for the specific subsections list below in subsection
(C) of this section. All references to the city of Edmonds critical area
ordinance in this program
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