Public Benefit Rating System
& Timber Land Programs
Resource Protection Incentives
The Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) and the Timber Land programs
provide incentives to encourage landowners to voluntarily conserve
and protect land resources, open space and timber. In return for
preserving and managing resources, the land is assessed at a value
consistent with its "current use" rather than the "highest
and best use." The reduction in assessed land value is greater
than 50% and as much as 90% for the portion of the land participating
in the program. Over 1075 landowners and 10,400 acres are presently
participating in these two programs.
- Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS): for property qualifying for one or more of the defined resources in the Resource Information document. Examples of open space resources include stream buffers, ground water protection areas, threatened or endangered wildlife, farmland, public recreation, historic property and others.
- Timber Land program: for property containing between five (5)
to twenty (20) acres of forestland, zoned RA, F or A and devoted
to the growth and harvest of timber. The owner must have an approved
and implemented forest stewardship plan.
Other Resource Programs
Property, the resource land only, is also eligible to participate
in one of the two other current use assessment programs available
in King County:
- Forestland: for property containing more than twenty (20) acres
primarily devoted to the growth and harvest of timber. This program
is administered by the King County Assessor's Office.
- Farm and Agricultural Lands: for property used for the production
of livestock or agricultural commodities for commercial purposes.
The financial requirements are dependent on the size of the land
and the gross annual revenue received for the land for three out
of the past five years. This program is administered by the King
County Assessor's Office.
Please refer to the appropriate document
or staff member for specific requirements
of each program. The annual application deadline for all four programs is December 31
(one year in advance of the expected assessed value reduction). For property located in the unincorporated area, the application fee for PBRS and Timber Land has been waived through 2008.
Publications:
Open
Space Taxation Act
PBRS Resource Information
Public Benefit Rating System application
Timber Land application
Washington State Forest Stewardship Plan Guidelines
Background Resources:
Critical
Areas Ordinances Fact Sheet- Public Benefit Rating System
(Acrobat PDF file)
Transfer of Development Rights Program
King County Assessor's
Office
Property
tax exemptions
King County Code
Chapter
20.36 for Open Space Taxation
Washington Administrative
Code
(please refer to Chapter 458-30 WAC OPEN SPACE TAXATION ACT RULES)
Revised Code of
Washington
(please refer to Chapter 84.34 for PBRS, Timber Land, Farm and Agriculture
or Chapter 84.33 for Forestland)
Washington State Department of
Natural Resources: Natural Heritage Program
Washington
Consulting Foresters Directory
Association of Consulting
Foresters of America, Inc. (ACF)
King
County Forestry Program
Washington State University King County Extension: Forest Stewardship
King County
Agriculture Program
King Conservation District
Basin Steward
Program
Stewardship Program
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