Notice of conversion to nonforestry use — Denial of permits or approvals by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity — Enforcement.
RCW 76.09.460
in effectIf a county, city, town, or regional governmental entity receives a notice of conversion to nonforestry use by the department under RCW 76.09.060 , then the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity must deny all applications for permits or approvals, including building permits and subdivision approvals, relating to nonforestry uses of the land that is the subject of the notification. The prohibition created by this section must be enforced by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity: (1) For a period of six years from the approval date of the applicable forest practices application or notification or the date that the department was made aware of the harvest activities; or (2) Until the following activities are completed for the land that is the subject of the notice of conversion to a nonforestry use: (a) Full compliance with chapter 43.21C RCW, if applicable; (b) The department has notified the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity that the landowner has resolved any outstanding final orders or decisions issued by the department; and (c) A determination is made by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity as to whether or not the condition of the land in question is in full compliance with local ordinances and regulations. If full compliance is not found, a mitigation plan to address violations of local ordinances or regulations must be required for the parcel in question by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity. Required mitigation plans must be prepared by the landowner and approved by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity. Once approved, the mitigation plan must be implemented by the landowner. Mitigation measures that may be required include, but are not limited to, revegetation requirements to plant and maintain trees of sufficient maturity and appropriate species composition to restore critical area and buffer function or to be in compliance with applicable local government regulations.
If a county, city, town, or regional governmental entity receives a notice of conversion to nonforestry use by the department under RCW 76.09.060 , then the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity must deny all applications for permits or approvals, including building permits and subdivision approvals, relating to nonforestry uses of the land that is the subject of the notification. The prohibition created by this section must be enforced by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity:
(1) For a period of six years from the approval date of the applicable forest practices application or notification or the date that the department was made aware of the harvest activities; or
(2) Until the following activities are completed for the land that is the subject of the notice of conversion to a nonforestry use:
(a) Full compliance with chapter 43.21C RCW, if applicable;
(b) The department has notified the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity that the landowner has resolved any outstanding final orders or decisions issued by the department; and
(c) A determination is made by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity as to whether or not the condition of the land in question is in full compliance with local ordinances and regulations. If full compliance is not found, a mitigation plan to address violations of local ordinances or regulations must be required for the parcel in question by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity. Required mitigation plans must be prepared by the landowner and approved by the county, city, town, or regional governmental entity. Once approved, the mitigation plan must be implemented by the landowner. Mitigation measures that may be required include, but are not limited to, revegetation requirements to plant and maintain trees of sufficient maturity and appropriate species composition to restore critical area and buffer function or to be in compliance with applicable local government regulations.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=76.09&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026