The Open Space Taxation Act, enacted in 1970, allows 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. The Act states that it is in the best interest of the state to maintain, preserve, conserve, and otherwise continue in existence adequate open space lands for the production of food, fiber, and forest crops and to assure the use and enjoyment of natural resources and scenic beauty for the economic and social well-being of the state and its citizens.

Eligibility Requirements

The law provides for three classifications:

 

1.

Open space land

 

2.

Farm and agricultural land

 

3.

Timber land

OPEN SPACE LAND is defined as any of the following:

  1. Any land area zoned for open space by an official comprehensive land use
  2. Any land area in which the preservation in its present use would:
  a) Conserve and enhance natural or scenic resources.
  b) Protect streams or water supply.
  c) Promote conservation of soils, wetlands, beaches or tidal marshes.
  d) Enhance the value to the public of abutting or neighboring parks, forests, wildlife preserves, nature reservations or sanctuaries or other open space.
  e) Enhance recreation opportunities.
  f) Preserve historic sites.
  g) Preserve visual quality along highway, road, and street corridors or scenic vistas
  h) Retain in its natural state tracts of land not less than one acre situated in an urban area and open to public use on such conditions as may be reasonably required by the legislative authority granting the open space classification.
  3. Any land meeting the definition of “farm and agricultural conservation
land,” which means either:
  a) Land previously classified under farm and agriculture classification that no longer meets the criteria and is reclassified under open space land.
  b) “Traditional farmland,” not classified, that has not been irrevocably devoted to a use inconsistent with agricultural uses,
and that has a high potential for returning to commercial 
agriculture.

As a condition of granting open space classification, the legislative body may not require public access on land classified under (2) (c) for the purpose of promoting conservation of wetlands.

FARM AND AGRICULTURAL LAND is defined as any of the following:

  1. Any parcel of land that is 20 or more acres, or multiple parcels of land that are contiguous and total 20 or more acres, and are:
  a) Devoted primarily to the production of livestock or agricultural commodities for commercial purposes.
  b) Enrolled in the federal conservation reserve program (CRP) or its successor administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.
  2. Any parcel of land that is five acres or more but less than 20 acres, is devoted primarily to agricultural uses, and has produced a gross income equivalent to:
  a) Prior to January 1, 1993, $100 or more per acre per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification.
  b) On or after January 1, 1993, $200 or more per acre per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification.

For parcels of land five acres or more but less than 20 acres, “gross income from agricultural uses” includes, but is not limited to, the wholesale value of agricultural products donated to nonprofit food banks or feeding programs.

  3. Any parcel of land of less than five acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses and has produced a gross income of:
  a) Prior to January 1, 1993, $1,000 or more per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification.
  b) On or after January 1, 1993, $1,500 or more per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification.
  4. “Farm and agricultural land” also includes any of these:
  a) Incidental uses compatible with agricultural purposes, including wetland preservation, provided such use does not exceed 20% of the classified land.
  b) Land on which appurtenances necessary for production, preparation, or sale of agricultural products exist in conjunction with the lands producing such products.
  c) Any noncontiguous parcel one to five acres, that is an integral part of the farming operations.
  d) Land on which housing for employees and the principal place of residence of the farm operator or owner is sited provided the use of the housing or residence is integral to the use of the classified land for agricultural purposes and provided that the classified parcel is 20 or more acres.

TIMBER LAND 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 which is or are devoted primarily to the growth and harvest of timber for commercial purposes. Timber land means the land only and does not include a residential home site. The term includes land used for incidental uses that are compatible with the growing and harvesting of timber but no more than 10% 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.

Application Process

An owner or contract purchaser may apply for current use assessment under the open space law. However, all owners or contract purchasers must sign the application for classification, and any resulting agreement.

Applications may be made for classification at any time during the year from January 1st through December 31st. Current use valuation assessment begins on January 1st of the year following the year the application was filed. For example, if you submitted your application in June of 2006 and it was approved, your current use valuation assessment would begin on January 1, 2007 for taxes payable in 2008.

Application forms are available at the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office. You can also obtain forms by visiting the Washington State Department of Revenue Website at http://dor.wa.gov.

Applications for farm and agricultural land classification and timber land classification are filed with the Grays Harbor County Assessor. Timber land applications require that a timber management plan be filed also.

An application for open space classification is filed with the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office and forwarded to the Grays Harbor County Commissioners for determination.

The application fee is $450 and must be submitted with the application.

Farm and Agricultural Land Applications

The Assessor will process all applications for farm and agricultural classifications with due regard to all relevant evidence, and may approve the application in whole or in part.

Upon application for classification, the Assessor may require applicants to provide data regarding the use of such land, including the productivity of typical crops, sales receipts, federal income tax returns, other related income and expense data, and any other information relevant to the application.

The application will be considered approved unless the Assessor notifies the applicant in writing prior to May 1st of the year following the year the application was made.

The Assessor records an approval of classification with the county auditor for public recording of the tax lien on real property.

The owner may appeal the Assessor’s denial to the Grays Harbor County Board of Equalization. The appeal must be filed with the Board of Equalization within 30 days after the mailing of the notice of denial.

Open Space Land Applications

Applications for classification or reclassification as “open space land” are filed with the Grays Harbor County Assessor and forwarded to the Grays Harbor County Commissioners for determination of eligibility.

A public hearing on the application will be conducted and a notice announcing the hearing must be published at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

The Grays Harbor County Commissioners either approve or reject the application in whole or in part within six months of receiving the application. In determining whether an application made for classification or reclassification should be approved or disapproved, the granting authority may consider the benefits to the general welfare of preserving the current use of the property. They may require that certain conditions be met including but not limited to the granting of easements.

If the application is approved, in whole or in part, the granting authority will, within five days of the approval date, send an Open Space Taxation Agreement to the applicant for signature showing the land classification and conditions imposed. The applicant may accept or reject the agreement. If the applicant accepts, he or she must sign and return the agreement to the granting authority within 25 days after the mailing of the agreement.

The approval or denial of the application for classification or reclassification is a legislative determination and is reviewable only for arbitrary and capricious actions. Appeals can be made only to the superior court of Grays Harbor County.

Within 10 days of receiving notice of classification of the land from the Commissioners, the Assessor submits such notice to the Grays Harbor County Auditor for recording in the place and manner provided for the public recording of state tax liens on real property.

Current use valuation will begin on January 1st of the year following the year the application was filed. The criteria for classification continue to apply after classification has been granted.

Timberland Classification Applications

Applications for current use timber land classification are made to the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office. A timber management plan is required at the time of application or when a sale or transfer of timber land occurs and a notice of continuance is signed. Classification is acted upon within six months of receiving the application.

Approval or denial of an application is reviewable only for arbitrary and capricious action and appeals can be made only to the superior court of Grays Harbor County. Grays Harbor County may not require the granting of easements for timber land.

The application form requires information about a forest management plan, restocking, fire protection, insect and disease control, weed control, and any other summary of experience and activity that supports the growth and harvest of timber for commercial purposes.

Criteria for Classification Continues to Apply After Classification has been Granted

  • The owner of classified land must continue to meet the criteria established for classification, or the Assessor may remove the land from the current use classification.
  • After giving the owner written notice and an opportunity to be heard, the Assessor may determine that all or a portion of the land no longer meets the criteria for classification.

Determination of Value

The Assessor is required to maintain two values for each parcel that is classified. The first is the value that would be placed on the land if it was not classified. This is commonly referred to as the “fair market value”. The second is the current use land value based on its present use as classified by the granting authority. The process for determining the value of open space lands is spelled out in statute. The Assessor considers only the use to which such property is currently applied and does not consider potential uses of such property.

The value for open space land will be no less than that for farm and agricultural land.

In determining the current use value of farm and agricultural land, the Assessor considers the earning or productive capacity of comparable lands from crops grown most typically in the area averaged over not less than five years. This earning or productive capacity is the “net cash rental” and is capitalized by a “rate of interest” charged on long term loans secured by a mortgage on farm or agricultural land plus a component for property taxes.

Timber land is valued according to a schedule prepared by the Washington State Department of Revenue for the Timber Tax Law, Chapter 84.33 RCW.

When Land is Valued at Current Use

Land which is classified as open space, farm and agricultural, or timber land is assessed at its current use value and placed on the assessment rolls in the year following the year of application.

Taxes upon classified land are due and payable in the year following the year the land was valued at its current use and placed on the assessment rolls.

POTENTIAL TAX LIABILITY

  • When land is classified as either farm and agricultural land, open space land, or timber land, it must remain under such classification and not be applied to any other use for at least 10 years from the date of classification unless transferred or reclassified into another current use classification.
  • The land will remain in the current use classification after the 10-year period until a request for withdrawal is made by the owner, the use of land no longer applies, or the ownership has changed and the new owner has not signed a Notice of Continuance.
  • The Notice of Classification is recorded with the Grays Harbor County Auditor in the same manner as the recording of state tax liens on real property.
  • Additional tax, interest, and penalties will apply if an early withdrawal from classification is requested by the owner.
  • Additional tax, interest, and in some cases, penalties will apply if the land is removed by the Assessor for failure to meet continuing qualifications or the Notice of Continuance is not signed when land is sold or transferred.

Owner May Request Withdrawal
If intending to withdraw all or a portion of the land from classification after 10 years, the owner must give the Assessor two years prior notice. This notice can be filed after the 8th assessment year of the initial 10-year classification period. If a portion of a parcel is removed from classification, the remaining portion must meet the requirements of original classification unless the remaining parcel has different income criteria.

Upon receipt of a request for withdrawal, the Assessor notifies the legislative authority that originally approved the classification, and, when two years have elapsed, the Assessor withdraws the land from classification.

The land withdrawn from classification is subject to an additional tax equal to the difference between the amount of tax paid under the classification and the tax at true and fair value for the last seven years, plus interest at the statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes.

Sale of Classified Land

When classified land is sold, the seller or transferor becomes liable at the time of sale for the additional tax, interest, and penalty unless the new owner(s) signs the Notice of Continuance which is attached to or shown on the real estate excise tax affidavit.

The Auditor cannot accept an instrument of conveyance on any classified land unless the Notice of Continuance has been signed or the additional tax has been paid.

The Assessor determines if the land qualifies for continued classification.

Removal of Land from Current Use Status

An owner changing the use of land from a classified use must notify the Assessor within 60 days of the action.

The Assessor will remove the land from classified status and impose an additional tax equal to the difference between the tax paid on the current use value and the tax that would have been paid on that land had it not been so classified.

The additional tax is payable for the last seven years, plus interest at the same rate as charged on delinquent property taxes, plus a penalty of 20% of the total amount.

Assessed valuation before and after removal of classification will be listed and allocated according to that part of the year to which each assessed valuation applies.

If land is being removed from classification by the Assessor, the Assessor must notify the owner within 30 days after the land is removed from classification. The notice must be in writing and it must explain the reasons for the removal.

The owner may file an appeal of the removal of classification to the Grays Harbor County Board of Equalization within 30 days of the date the notice was mailed by the Assessor.

At the time the land is removed from classification, it becomes subject to any additional tax, applicable interest, and penalties that are due and payable to the Grays Harbor County Treasurer within 30 days after the owner is notified.

Any additional tax, applicable interest, and penalties become a lien on the land at the time the land is removed from classification. This lien has priority over any other encumbrance on the land. Such a lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency in the same manner as delinquent real property taxes.

Upon collection, the additional tax is distributed by the County Treasurer in the same manner in which current taxes applicable to the subject land are distributed.

WHEN REMOVAL OF LAND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL TAX

The additional tax, applicable interest, and penalties are not imposed if the removal of classification results solely from one of these actions:

  • Land is transferred to a government entity in exchange for other land located within the state of Washington.
  • Land is taken through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or land is sold or transferred to an entity having the power of eminent domain after receiving notification in writing or by other official action that they anticipated such action.
  • A natural disaster changes the use of such land.
  • Official action by an agency of the state, county, or city disallows the present use of such land.
  • Land is transferred to a church which would qualify for exemptions granted thereto.
  • Property interest is acquired by state agencies or agencies or organizations qualified under RCW 84.34.210 and64.04.130 (See RCW 84.34.108 (6) (f).)
  • Removal of land classified as farm and agricultural land on which housing for employees and/or principal place of residence is sited.
  • Removal of land from classification after enactment of a statutory exemption that qualifies the land for exemption and receipt of notice from the owner to remove the land from classification.
  • The creation, sale, or transfer of forestry riparian easements under RCW 76.13.120.
  • The creation, sale, or transfer of a fee interest or a conservation easement for the riparian open space program under RCW 76.09.040.
  • The sale or transfer of land within two years after the death of the owner of at least a 50% interest in the land if the land has been assessed and valued as designated forest land under Chapter 84.33 RCW, or classified underChapter 84.34 RCW continuously since 1993.

TRANSFER BETWEEN CLASSIFICATIONS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS

Land may be reclassified, upon request by the owner, subject to all applicable qualifications for each classification, without additional tax, interest, or penalties for the following:

Land classified as farm and agricultural land may be reclassified to timber land; timber land may be reclassified to farm and agricultural land.

Land classified as either farm and agricultural, timber land, or forest land under Chapter 84.33 RCW may be reclassified to open space land.

Land classified as farm and agricultural land or timber land may be reclassified to forest land under Chapter 84.33 RCW.

Land previously classified as farm and agricultural land may be reclassified to open space land as “farm and agricultural conservation land” and subsequently be reclassified back to farm and agricultural land.

The application for transfer from designated forest land to a current use classification must be made within 30 days from the date of removal from forest land status.

RECLASSIFICATION APPROVALS are acted on in the same manner as approvals for classification. The Assessor approves all applications for farm and agricultural classifications and reclassifications. The County Commissioners approves all land classifications or reclassifications for timber land or open space land. Land of less than 20 acres being reclassified into farm and agricultural land classifications from open space “farm and agricultural conservation land”, timber land, or forest land may have the income requirements deferred for a period of up to five years from the date of the reclassification.

LAWS AND RULES

Complete information concerning the requirements and the manner for making application for current use reclassification and assessments is available at the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office.

It is helpful to read the Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 84.33, and the Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 458-30to understand requirements of the classifications and the tax liabilities incurred.

Publications concerning the open space law are also available through the Grays Harbor County extension agent.