The State of Washington defines Small Forest Landowners (SFLs) as those who harvest less than an average timber volume of two million board feet per year (RCW 76.13.010 and RCW 76.09.450). The term also generally applies to non-industrial, privately owned forestland of less than 5,000 acres.

 

 

 

More than a third of Washington’s 22 million acres of forestlands are privately owned. Active forest management, including reducing overcrowding through thinning or pruning reduces competition for light, water, and nutrients, making for a forest that is better able to cope with threats, including catastrophic fire.

 

They also increase our forests’ productivity, leading to a greater return on investment both in wood production and carbon sequestration. DNR’s Service Forestry Program and Small Forest Landowner Office can provide forest stewardship or forest management planning, advice and recommendations for landowners at no cost to landowners. 

 

 

 

Forest practices are the regulated activities related to growing, harvesting, or processing timber, including hydraulic projects, roads and culverts, thinning, salvage, reforestation, brush control, and application of fertilizers or pesticides RCW 76.09.020). Since 1974, the state has regulated forestry activities on non-federal public and private lands through the Forest Practices Act.

 

 

 

Forest Practices Rules are the legal standards for forest practices – logging, road construction, pesticide application, and other forestry-related activities. The rules, set by the Forest Practices Board, are intended to protect natural resources while allowing for responsible forestland management.

 

The DNR’s Forest Practices program administers and enforces the Forest Practices Rules through a permitting process, called a Forest Practices Application/Notification (FPA/N). For more information, check out the Forest Practices Illustrated publication, or contact DNR’s Small Forest Landowner Regulation Assistance Program.

 

 

 

A Forest Practices Application/Notification (FPA/N) permit is required whenever more than 5,000 board feet (about a truck load of logs) of timber is harvested. For more information, contact the Small Forest Landowner Regulation Assistance Program. 

 

 

 

If you want to research whether activities on forestlands have gone through the state regulated permitting process, you can check the Forest Practices Application Review System (FPARS). You can also sign up to receive notifications about forest practice activities near you or contact your regional DNR office that directly administers and enforces FPA/Ns. 

 

 

 

Burning is allowed without a permit if you have a small burn pile and follow these rules. Otherwise you will need a burn permit from DNR.

 

More information and everything you need for applying for a DNR burn permit can be found at the DNR Burn Portal. The Department of Ecology issues burn permits for certain agriculture, outdoor, and residential burning to safeguard healthy air for Washington and more information can be found on their website.

 

Remember to check with your fire district, city or county government for any local burn restrictions.

 

 

 

DNR and its partners provide a variety of technical and financial assistance options for small forest landowners. Whether your objectives for your lands are to enhance fish and wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, produce revenue or all of the above, DNR staff will try to connect you with services and programs to assist you.

 

For more information, contact the DNR’s Small Forest Landowner Office, a service forester or contact your regional DNR office. WSU Extension Forestry also provides a number of services in partnership with DNR.

 

 

 

DNR’s Webster Forest Nursery is a self-funded program that grows several million seedlings for purchase by small forest landowners. Read about planting seedlings or contact DNR’s Small Forest Landowner Office or a service forester for technical and stewardship related planting advice, including arranging onsite visits to your property. 

 

Your local conservation district office and the Washington Association of Conservation Districts Plant Materials Center are other good resources for tree seedlings.

 

 

 

DNR service foresters are available to answer questions and may be able to visit your property and help diagnose forest health issues. They can also connect you with DNR’s team of forest pathologists, entomologists, and forest health specialists. Financial assistance may also be available to small forest landowners. 

 

 

 

Wildfires are only getting more frequent and destructive in Washington. If you’re interested in taking action to help make your property more resilient in the face of wildfire, a service forester can help with technical and financial assistance for forest health and wildfire prevention work, including thinning and pruning.

 

DNR coordinates the National Fire Protection Association Firewise USA® program for Washington. DNR’s Wildfire Ready Neighbors can also help you prepare your home for wildfire. More information on wildfire preparedness is available online.

 

 

 

Designated forestland is a tax status category administered by the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR). As a way to encourage forestry in Washington State, landowners may choose to have their land designated as forestland, which often results in a lower assessed property value and lower taxes. Applications are obtained and filed with your county assessor. Check with your county for other current use tax programs.

 

Other tax information

 

 

 

DNR forester resources are available to you for consulting and general advice, but you may also be interested in contacting a contract logger or consultant. A service forester may be able to provide a list of contacts. Washington State University Extension maintains a Washington State Consulting Forester and Silvicultural Contractor Directory. Other possible resources are The Society of American Foresters and the Washington Contract Loggers Association’s Master Logger Program List.