Project News

County releases agricultural lands study as part of the comprehensive plan update

The study focuses on land within the unincorporated areas of the county, outside of the current urban growth areas, including areas that currently have agricultural and rural zoning. The study evaluates state and local criteria to help identify lands that are used or capable of being used for agricultural production. The study and related materials can be viewed here:

• Agricultural Lands Study
• Map - Agricultural Land Base
• Map - Current Use Programs [Land Base]
• Map - Current Use Programs [Land Des]
• Map - Predominant Parcel Size [Land Base]
• Map - Predominant Parcel Size [Land Des]
• Map - Prime Farmland [Land Base]
• Map- Prime Farmland [Land Des]

The agricultural lands study does not include policy recommendations or recommend changes to land designations. The data within the report will be utilized to inform decision makers and the public in the selection of a preferred alternative that will be further analyzed as a part of the comprehensive plan update. 

The consultant that produced it will give the Clark County Council an informational briefing as a part of a work session in November. The work session is open to the public, however there will be no public comment as part of the event. Public comment on the study will take place in early 2026 as a part of a discussion on the preferred alternative. 

The work session will be held on Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. Information on how to attend the meeting can be found on the council’s meeting page at https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings.

October Open House

The county held an in-person open house on October 28 to gather feedback and provide information on the agricultural lands study including the methodology used and some high-level initial findings. View workshop materials here.

September Open House

The county held an in-person workshop to provide information on the agricultural lands study and gather feedback from community members, farmers, neighbors, and anyone interested in agriculture and land use in Clark County. View workshop materials here.

Project Overview

In early 2025, as part of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update, the Clark County Council directed staff to complete a county-wide agricultural resource lands study. 

Clark County has not performed a comprehensive agricultural resource lands study since the initial adoption of the county’s first comprehensive plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA) in 1994. It was during the adoption of the initial plan in the mid-1990’s that the bulk of agriculture lands designations in place today were evaluated. 

Since then, the region has experienced significant changes such as the development of new housing and infrastructure and changes in farming operations and regional markets. These shifts raise important questions about whether existing designations still reflect the current realities on the ground and whether there are other lands that now qualify for agricultural designation. 

The county, with help from consultants, will complete an evaluation of land within the unincorporated areas, outside of the current urban growth areas. 

The general purpose of the study is to:

• Help inform the county’s decisions regarding the comprehensive plan update.
• Ensure that the county’s agricultural resource lands designations comply with applicable county code and state statutes, specifically the Growth Management Act (GMA).

The study will include both currently designated agricultural resource lands and recommendations for inclusion of any lands that should qualify for such designation but are not currently designated.

Related Work

The county also recently formed the Agricultural Advisory Commission. Find out more about the commission and their work here.