Forest Practices

Forest Practice Development Moratoriums

A Forest Practice Moratorium is a restriction placed on a parcel as a result of logging conducted as a Class II, III, or certain Class IV Forest Practices, OR certain Forest Practices which are commenced without a Forest Practice authorization.

The moratorium is imposed for a period of six years commencing from the date of approval of the Forest Practice, and authorizes local government to deny development proposals, including land subdivisions, building permits, clearing/grading permits, and other development activities during the moratorium period.

King County Code (KCC) 16.82.140 requires a Forest Practice Moratorium to be imposed when logging has been conducted in one of the described circumstances. This authority is granted per the Revised Code of Washington* (RCW) chapter 76.09.06*.

Relief from the Forest Practice Moratorium is considered only upon demonstration by the land owner that special circumstances exist (trespass, fraud, financial hardship), and pursuant to the notice, review, and appeal process of a type 2 land use decision.

In addition, the land owner must demonstrate that the parcel is compliant with King County development standards including critical areas, stormwater drainage control, community/ basin plan requirements, and clearing/grading standards.

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Updated: December 30, 2004

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