Designated Forest Land & Open Space Programs

Current Use Exemptions

Farm & Agriculture RCW 84.34
     1.  Any parcel of land that is twenty or more acres or multiple parcels of land that are contiguous
           and total twenty or more acres:
              a.  Devoted primarily to the production of livestock or agricultural commodities for                                                       commercial purposes;
              b.  Enrolled in the federal conservation reserve program or its successor                                                                      administered by the United States Department of Agriculture; or
              c.  Other similar commercial activities as may be established by rule.

     2.  Any parcel of land that is five acres or more but less than twenty acres devoted primarily to                              agricultural uses, which has produced a gross income from agricultural uses equivalent to, as of January 1,          1993:
              a.  One hundred dollars or more per acre per year for three of the five calendar years preceding                                   the date of application for classification under this chapter for all parcels of land that are                                        classified under this subsection or all parcels of land for which and application for                                                  classification under this subsection is made with the granting authority prior to January 1, 1993; 
               b.  On or after January 1, 1993, two hundred dollars or more per acre per year for three of the                                   five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter.

     3.  Any parcel of land of less than five acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses which has                                   produced a gross income as of January 1, 1993, of:
              a.  One thousand dollars or more per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of                              application for classification under this chapter for all parcels of land that are classified under this                         subsection or all parcels of land for which an application for classification under this subsection is
                   made with the granting authority prior to January 1, 1993; 
              b.  On or after January 1, 1993, fifteen hundred dollars or more per year for three of the five                                         calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter.


     4.  Any parcel of land that is five acres or more but less than twenty acres devoted primarily to agricultural                 uses, which meet one of the following criteria:
              a.  Has produced a gross income from agricultural uses equivalent to two hundred dollars or more per                         acre per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification                         under this chapter;
              b.  Has standing crops with an expectation of harvest within seven years, except as provided in this                         subsection, and a demonstrable investment in the production of those crops equivalent to one                              hundred dollars or more per acre in the current or previous calendar year.
               c.  Has a standing crop of short rotation hardwoods with an expectation of harvest within fifteen years                         and a demonstrable investment in the production of those crops equivalent to one hundred dollars or                    more per acre in the current or previous calendar year.

Designated Forest RCW 84.33
To request your land be designated as forest land, the following requirements apply:
         *     
Designated forest land and means any parcel of land that is five or more acres or multiple                                     parcels of land that are contiguous and total five or more acres that is or are devoted primarily to                          growing and harvesting timber.
         *     Designated forest land means the land only and does not include a residential homesite.  The                                term includes land used for incidental uses that are compatible with the growing and                                               harvesting of timber but now more than ten percent of the land may be used for such                                                incidental uses.
         *    
 It also includes the land on which appurtenances necessary for the production, preparation, or                                 sale of the timber products exist in conjunction with land producing these products.
         *     You must comply with forest practice laws and regulations.
         *     Application must be made with the County Assessor's Office.