Rule making

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) offers several ways to participate in and comment on proposed rules.

Submit your comments on WDFW's rule-making activities

WDFW's rule-making activity is governed by state laws, including:

Current rule-making activity

See WDFW's current rule-making activities.

Permanent rules adopted by WDFW

These rules have gone through the rule development process and have been adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission or WDFW's Director. 

Emergency rule changes

These are critical rule changes that require immediate action and are good for 120 days or less.

Search rule-making activity

Search current, permanent, and emergency rule-making activity from 2020 to the present.

Withdrawn rule making

These rules have either been formally withdrawn or not adopted and filed with the Code Reviser within 180 days of the publication of the rule proposal.

Semi-annual rule-making agenda

Six month calendar of proposed rule-making

North of Falcon Process

Information about meetings, comments, and other background useful to rule making for North of Falcon fisheries.  

Columbia River Compact Process

Information about meetings, comments, and other background useful to rule making for Columbia River Compact fisheries.  

How to participate

The public is offered opportunities to comment as part of WDFW's rule-making process.

Rule-making glossary

Some phrases and terms commonly used during the rule-making process.

Current rule-making petitions

Read petitions awaiting consideration by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission requesting the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule.

Archived rule-making petitions

These petitions have  been decided by either the Fish and Wildlife Commission or WDFW's Director or have been withdrawn by the petitioner.