The City of Lake Forest Park municipal code16.06.080 implements the State Environmental Act, and sets the requirements for drainage as follows:

16.06.080    Drainage.

A. Policy Background.

1. Property development and redevelopment often creates increased volumes and rates of stormwater runoff, which may cause property damage, safety hazards, nuisance problems and water quality degradation.
2. Pollution, mechanical damage, excessive flows, and other conditions in drainage basins will increase the rate of downcutting and/or the degree of turbidity, siltation, and other forms of pollution in streams, creeks and lakes. They may also reduce low flows or low water levels to a level which endangers aquatic and benthic life within these streams, creeks and lakes.
3. The aesthetic quality of the water and watercourses, as well as the suitability of waters for contact recreation and wildlife habitat, may be destroyed.

B. Policies.

1. It is the city’s policy to protect streams, lakes, drainage basins and property from adverse drainage impacts.
2. The decisionmaker may condition or deny projects to mitigate adverse drainage impacts; provided, that the following may specifically be conditioned or denied:

a. Projects located in environmentally sensitive areas and areas tributary to them;
b. Projects located in areas where downstream drainage facilities are known to be inadequate; and
c. Projects draining into streams identified by the State Department of Fisheries or Wildlife as bearing anadromous fish.

3. The following procedures shall apply in addition to Chapter 16.24 LFPMC, Drainage Plans:

   a. On- and off-site control of stormwater, in conjunction with property development and redevelopment, shall be required throughout the city except where separate storm drain systems have sufficient capacity to carry existing and anticipated increases.
   b. The gross composite coefficient of runoff, after development, will not exceed the following values for the zoning listed:

   	Zoning	Cc
   	R-6000 – R-7200	.55
   	R-9600 – R-10000	.45
   	R-15000	.35
   	R-20000	.35

   All zoning will require special evaluation. All sensitive areas will require further evaluation before approval.
   c. A drainage control plan shall accompany or be included with the application and/or request for any city action on a proposed project.
   d. Approval of the most suitable method of drainage control shall be made by the city official or authorizing agency on a case-by-case basis.
   
   

4. To mitigate adverse impacts associated with the projects identified in Policy 2, projects may be required to provide drainage control measures. Mitigating measures may include, but are not limited to:
   
   a. Reducing the size or scope of the project;
   b. Requiring landscaping and/or retention of existing vegetation;
   c. Requiring additional drainage control or drainage improvements either on- or off-site including limitations on the flow to mitigate all impacts up to a 100-year flood of 24-hour duration; and
   d. Soil stabilization measures;
   e. Covenants running with the land giving the city an independent right to recover expenses for remedying deficient drainage systems. (Ord. 499 § 4, 1992; Ord. 426 § 6(3), 1989)

To look up the rest of the municipal code, as well as state regulations (RCWs and WACs), visit the Municipal Research & Services Center. In their municipal codes section, you can look up many cities' codes, including LFP's Development Standards in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (i.e., Chapter 16.18).

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