10/21/2026
Kitsap farmlands are disappearing and one reason may be that Kitsap County is the only county in the state without any designated agricultural resource lands.
KCFC works directly with Kitsap County farms to support the production of local food.
39 COUNTIES IN WASHINGTON. ONLY ONE WITHOUT DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE LANDS. THAT COUNTY IS KITSAP.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Kitsap County has farms, farmers, livestock, orchards, market gardens, and families who have worked the land for generations. Agriculture is part of our history, our economy, and our community.
Yet Kitsap stands apart from the rest of Washington in one significant way.
We have no officially designated Agricultural Resource Lands (ARL).
Under Washington's Growth Management Act, counties identify agricultural land considered to have long-term commercial significance. This designation helps establish a framework for protecting farmland from incompatible development.
Kitsap County's Comprehensive Plan states that our agricultural land doesn't meet the criteria for that designation.
That doesn't mean agriculture isn't happening here. And it doesn't mean our farms have no protections.
But it does raise some important questions.
What happens when farmland becomes more valuable for development than for growing food?
How do we protect opportunities for the next generation of farmers?
How can farm businesses invest in their future when land-use regulations, water availability, development pressures, and land costs create uncertainty?
And perhaps most importantly...
Should the future of Kitsap agriculture be determined only by what land looks like on a map, or also by the people who actually farm it?
These are questions worth discussing, especially right now.
ON OCTOBER 29, KITSAP FARMERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
Kitsap County is hosting its Rural Lands Analysis Workshop, part of an ongoing effort to understand rural land use and inform future planning decisions.
The analysis is examining land use, development, conservation, agriculture, forestry, and natural resources. Its findings could help shape future recommendations affecting rural properties and agricultural businesses.
Importantly, the workshop will include a dedicated agriculture discussion group.
This isn't a meeting where new farmland regulations will be adopted. It's an opportunity to share experiences, examine information, and help inform the next phase of the county's analysis.
And farmers have firsthand knowledge that deserves to be part of that process.
RURAL LANDS ANALYSIS WORKSHOP
Thursday, October 29, 2026
5:00–7:00 PM
Village Green Community Center
26159 Dulay Road NE, Kingston
Registration is required. Attendance is limited to 60 participants.
Workshop information and registration:
https://www.kitsap.gov/dcd/Pages/Rural_Lands_Analysis.aspx
At KCAA, we believe that understanding the challenges facing local agriculture is an important part of building a stronger local food system.
Whether you're a longtime farmer, just starting out, a rural landowner, or someone who cares about the future of local food, this conversation matters.
Here's a question we'd love to hear your thoughts on:
What would meaningful protection and support for agricultural land in Kitsap County actually look like?
Sources: Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan and Kitsap County Rural Lands Analysis.
