Projects and activities not required to obtain certain permits, variances, letters of exemption, or other local review.
RCW 90.58.356
in effect(1) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (a) "Maintenance" means the preservation of the transportation facility or transit facility, including surface, shoulders, roadsides, structures including, but not limited to, bridges and buried structures, ditches and all stormwater treatment and conveyance features, environmental mitigation sites, utilities appurtenant to transportation system operations, and such traffic control devices as are necessary for safe and efficient utilization of the highway in a manner that substantially conforms to the preexisting design, function, and location as the original except to meet current engineering standards or environmental permit requirements. (b) "Repair" means to restore a structure or development to a state comparable to its original condition including, but not limited to, restoring the development's size, shape, configuration, location, and external appearance, within a reasonable period after decay or partial destruction. Repair of a structure or development may not cause substantial adverse effects to shoreline resources or the shoreline environment. Replacement of a structure or development may be considered a repair if: Replacement is the common method of repair for the type of structure or development; the replacement structure or development is comparable to the original structure or development including, but not limited to, the size, shape, configuration, location, and external appearance of the original structure or development; and the replacement does not cause substantial adverse effects to shoreline resources or the shoreline environment. (c) "Replacement" of any existing transportation facility, or transit facility, including surface, shoulders, roadsides, structures including, but not limited to, bridges and buried structures, ditches and all stormwater treatment and conveyance features, utilities appurtenant to transportation system operations, environmental mitigation sites, and traffic control devices, means to replace in a manner that substantially conforms to the preexisting design, function, and location as the original except to meet current engineering standards or environmental permit requirements. Maintenance or replacement activities do not involve expansion of automobile lanes, and do not result in significant negative shoreline impact. (2) The following department of transportation projects and activities do not require a substantial development permit, conditional use permit, variance, letter of exemption, or other review conducted by a local government: (a) Maintenance, repair, or replacement that occurs within the roadway prism of a state highway as defined in RCW 46.04.560 , the lease or ownership area of a state ferry terminal, or the lease or ownership area of a transit facility, including ancillary transportation facilities such as pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, or both, and bike lanes; (b) Construction or installation of safety structures and equipment, including pavement marking, freeway surveillance and control systems, railroad protective devices not including grade separated crossings, grooving, glare screen, safety barriers, energy attenuators, and hazardous or dangerous tree removal; (c) Maintenance occurring within the right-of-way; or (d) Construction undertaken in response to unforeseen, extraordinary circumstances that is necessary to prevent a decline, lapse, or cessation of service from a lawfully established transportation facility. (3) Construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement work on transit facilities, when the work is conducted within a department of transportation right-of-way, does not require a substantial development permit, conditional use permit, variance, letter of exemption, or other review conducted by a local government.
(1) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Maintenance" means the preservation of the transportation facility or transit facility, including surface, shoulders, roadsides, structures including, but not limited to, bridges and buried structures, ditches and all stormwater treatment and conveyance features, environmental mitigation sites, utilities appurtenant to transportation system operations, and such traffic control devices as are necessary for safe and efficient utilization of the highway in a manner that substantially conforms to the preexisting design, function, and location as the original except to meet current engineering standards or environmental permit requirements.
(b) "Repair" means to restore a structure or development to a state comparable to its original condition including, but not limited to, restoring the development's size, shape, configuration, location, and external appearance, within a reasonable period after decay or partial destruction. Repair of a structure or development may not cause substantial adverse effects to shoreline resources or the shoreline environment. Replacement of a structure or development may be considered a repair if: Replacement is the common method of repair for the type of structure or development; the replacement structure or development is comparable to the original structure or development including, but not limited to, the size, shape, configuration, location, and external appearance of the original structure or development; and the replacement does not cause substantial adverse effects to shoreline resources or the shoreline environment.
(c) "Replacement" of any existing transportation facility, or transit facility, including surface, shoulders, roadsides, structures including, but not limited to, bridges and buried structures, ditches and all stormwater treatment and conveyance features, utilities appurtenant to transportation system operations, environmental mitigation sites, and traffic control devices, means to replace in a manner that substantially conforms to the preexisting design, function, and location as the original except to meet current engineering standards or environmental permit requirements. Maintenance or replacement activities do not involve expansion of automobile lanes, and do not result in significant negative shoreline impact.
(2) The following department of transportation projects and activities do not require a substantial development permit, conditional use permit, variance, letter of exemption, or other review conducted by a local government:
(a) Maintenance, repair, or replacement that occurs within the roadway prism of a state highway as defined in RCW 46.04.560 , the lease or ownership area of a state ferry terminal, or the lease or ownership area of a transit facility, including ancillary transportation facilities such as pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, or both, and bike lanes;
(b) Construction or installation of safety structures and equipment, including pavement marking, freeway surveillance and control systems, railroad protective devices not including grade separated crossings, grooving, glare screen, safety barriers, energy attenuators, and hazardous or dangerous tree removal;
(c) Maintenance occurring within the right-of-way; or
(d) Construction undertaken in response to unforeseen, extraordinary circumstances that is necessary to prevent a decline, lapse, or cessation of service from a lawfully established transportation facility.
(3) Construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement work on transit facilities, when the work is conducted within a department of transportation right-of-way, does not require a substantial development permit, conditional use permit, variance, letter of exemption, or other review conducted by a local government.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=90.58&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026