We invite you to participate in our rule-making process. WDFW is actively considering the rule-making proceedings listed below. Chapter 220-111 WAC provides procedures for inspecting or requesting copies of rule-making files.
You will see rules in various stages of the rule-making process:
- “Pending rule making” means that we have filed proposed rules with the Washington State Legislature’s Code Reviser’s Office. These links will take you to the documents that include the information, timeline, and contact information for each.
- "Preproposals” means that we may develop and file proposed rules on these topics.
See the Rule-making glossary for more information about the terms used here.
Contact information
Agency rules coordinator
Rules.Coordinator@dfw.wa.gov
Pending rule making
The department seeks to amend a rule affecting the coastal recreational bottomfish fishery so that it is consistent with federal regulations recently adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
The department seeks to amend WAC 220-356-160 to update the current WDFW address for submission of harvest logbooks for commercial herring and baitfish.
For the 2025 hunting season, this rule project sets forth the harvest caps by Cougar Hunt Management Unit (previously PMUs), the mortality counts towards the cap (harvest and conflict) and information on the cougar hotline and website that will weekly update closures.
The department is considering changes to rules for recreational clam, mussel, and oyster harvest seasons in 2025.
As part of its 2025 hunting rule project, the department seeks to amend Wildlife rules to address the spread of CWD that has been detected in the state.
The department is considering a number of changes to hunting rules as part of its 2025 Season Setting rule proposal. Rule changes involve multi-season deer and elk tags, deer and elk special permits, bighorn sheep and mountain goat special permits and migratory gamebird seasons.
This rule proposal establishes the black bear hunting season dates and bag limits for each of the 14 Black Bear Management Units (BBMU), as well as where it is illegal to harvest black bear in Washington. The amendments make it unlawful to kill cubs (less than one-year old) and females with cubs. In addition, the amendments include the list of GMUs where the Bear ID Test is required. Finally, the amendments specify that mandatory bear tooth samples must be submitted to the department by December 1.
The department seeks to create a new rule to restrict the feeding of deer, elk and moose in the state.
The department is considering rulemaking to amend requirements in the coastal and Puget Sound commercial Dungeness crab fisheries.
The rule proposal establishes standards for director approval for fish passage and screening, ensuring that fish can freely migrate and move through and around obstructions and are not harmed by man-made transfers of water flow from a natural system. The rule proposal defines terms, identifies standards for evaluating inadequate fishways and water diversions, and outlines compliance requirements and agency enforcement options.
Based on public comments received on the rule publication, the department is currently revising its draft rules and will be refiling a supplemental rule publication.
Preproposals
The department is considering amendments to the current recreational fishing seasons &
rules for Lake Roosevelt sturgeon.The rule proposal regulates the 2025 commercial salmon purse seine, gillnet, reef net, and beach seine fisheries in Puget Sound and is part of a comprehensive rulemaking package. Specific rule changes include setting areas, dates, times, and minimum gillnet mesh size for 2025 Puget Sound commercial salmon harvest.
The rule proposal regulates the 2025 fall commercial salmon gillnet fisheries in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor and is part of a comprehensive rulemaking package. Specific rule changes include setting areas, dates, times, and minimum gillnet mesh size for 2025 coastal commercial salmon harvest.
The rule proposal regulates the 2025 recreational salmon fisheries statewide and is part of a comprehensive rulemaking package. Specific rule changes include setting dates, times, species, and daily limits for 2025 recreational salmon fisheries in saltwater and freshwater areas.
The department seeks to create a new rule concerning the permanent closure of fishing areas near Washington state ferry terminals that would prohibit either commercial or recreational purse seine fishing, crabbing, shrimping and gillnetting
The Department seeks to amend the current notice requirements for testing commercial fishing gear in WAC chapter 220-353.
The department is considering a recommendation to classify the island marble butterfly as state-endangered, threatened, or sensitive as defined under WAC chapter 220-610.
The department is seeking to amend rules in WAC chapter 220-440.
The rule proposal establishes logbook requirements for Columbia River commercial fishing downstream of Bonneville Dam.
The rule proposal updates beach designations (Oyster Drill Restricted Areas) according to shellfish pest status.
The rule proposal defines certain terms, clarifies existing definitions, and amends references to defined terms for consistency and clarity.
Amendments would be needed to set season dates and permit numbers in order to offer a 2023 spring black bear season. In addition to providing recreational hunting opportunity, a special permit season could assist the department with addressing specific management needs that include, but are not limited to, tree damage on industrial managed timberlands, human-bear conflict and damage, and harvest distribution.
The rule proposal amends and clarifies rules regarding the collection and retrieval of wildlife parts from public lands.
Currently, the department provides the public certain administrative hearing rights based on agency actions and decisions that are described in numerous rules scattered within WAC Title 220.
The rule proposal amends WDFW's nonnative marine finfish aquaculture rules.