Designated Forest Land

As a way to encourage sound forestry practices and conserve healthy, working forests in Washington state, many counties offer landowners the option to have their land designated as forests. This designation often results in lower assessed value and lower property taxes. 

History of Designated Forest Land

The Designated Forest Land Program, RCW 84.33, was established in 1970 by the Washington State Legislature under the Open Space Taxation Act. This Act states that it is in the best interest of Washington to maintain, preserve, conserve, and otherwise continue open space lands. To encourage this, it allows eligible property owners to have their open space, farm and agricultural, and timber lands valued at their current use rather than at their “highest and best use.”

Is My Forest Land Eligible?

In Snohomish County, you can contact the Assessor’s office to find out whether your property would be eligible for designation as forest land. You'll need to ensure that you have at least five acres of land which can be dedicated primarily to the growth and production of timber. Learn more here.

Forestry Resources for Landowners

Attend educational courses on forest stewardship provided by your local extension office. Schedule a free site visit with a local conservation district, or by your state's Department of Natural Resources. Take advantage of cost-share funding opportunities through your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office.

Timber Management Plans

A Timber Management Plan is required by most counties when applying for Designated Forest Land status. This plan provides you with valuable information about your forest, and outlines your goals and management decisions. Snohomish Conservation District has a forester who can visit your property for free and offer ideas and resources. Contact Stacey Dixon for information on managing your forest for long-term health, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and timber at sdixon@snohomishcd.org or call (360) 453-7163. If you do not live in Snohomish County, visit betterground.org to find your local conservation district.

You can also find foresters, loggers, reforestation specialists, and more in the Washington State Consulting Forester and Silvicultural Contractor Directory, a resource provided by WSU Extension Forestry.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J22301 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.