Agency rule making

Rule-making process

WSDOT and the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) file all proposed, emergency, amended, new, and repealed rules with the Office of the Code Reviser. The Office of the Code Reviser publishes them in the Washington State Register (WSR). Adopted rules become part of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

WSDOT and WSTC are committed to developing and adopting rules that are necessary, fair, understandable, and consistent. WSDOT's Business Support Services Division oversees and provides information about rules administered by WSDOT and WSTC. The Business Support Services Division is the official WSDOT and WSTC liaison with the Office of the Code Reviser and the Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee (JARRC).

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) is the state law that outlines the standards that WSDOT and WSTC must follow to adopt a rule. The Regulatory Fairness Act requires WSDOT and WSTC to analyze the impact of their rules on small businesses.

If you would like to receive notifications about WSDOT and WSTC Washington State Register filings, please email the WSDOT WAC Rules Coordinator.

WSDOT proposed rules, public hearings, and filings

• Rule making for WAC 468-06-140 (titled “Department index”). This rule reflects requirements for the department index for certain records.
  We held a virtual public hearing in Microsoft Teams on February 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. We have adopted the proposed rule. It is effective on June 13, 2026.
   
• Rule making for Chapter 468-100 WAC (titled “Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition”). This rule makes updates based on updates to federal regulations and state law. 
  We held a virtual public hearing in Microsoft Teams on May 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. We have adopted the rule with minor edits to remove an asterisk in WAC 468-100-302 and use the full Washington state department of transportation name in WAC 468-100-305(1). The rule is effective on June 11, 2026.
   
• Rule making for new Chapter 468-712 WAC (titled “Turnback agreements”). This rule establishes procedures for the transfer of right of way to local agencies for highway use.
  We held a virtual public hearing in Microsoft Teams on March 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. We have adopted the rule with some clarifying edits. In WAC 468-712-010, we added an additional paragraph to clarify when the turnback process would be used and what it does not apply to. In WAC 468-712-042(1)(c), we adjusted the wording to say that maintenance and operations obligations are specified for “prior to final transfer.” The rule is effective on May 15, 2026.
   
• You can access all WSDOT filings in the Washington State Register.

Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) proposed rules, public hearings, and filings

• There are no proposed rules or scheduled WAC hearings for WSTC at this time. 
• You can access all WSTC filings in the Washington State Register.