22.86.050 Exemptions.
This section exempts the following activities from the provisions of this chapter when located outside of critical areas as defined in Chapter 22.80 MMC:
A. Emergency removal of ground cover or hazardous trees by any person, the public works department, parks department, fire department and/or public or private utility necessary to protect public safety or private or public property from imminent danger;
B. Maintenance activities including routine vegetation management and essential tree removal for public and private utilities, road rights-of-way, easements, and parks;
C. Forest practices on forestlands where a landowner has previously submitted a ten-year statement of nonconversion to the Department of Natural Resources, together with an acceptable ten-year forest management plan or proof that the land is currently enrolled in current use assessment-timber lands or a conversion option harvest plan (COHP), under Chapter 84.33 RCW, prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter;
D. Contiguous forested lands twenty acres or greater in size, where the forest landowner provides a written and signed statement of intent not to convert to a use other than growing commercial timber for ten years. Nonconversion applications will continue to be processed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources;
E. Existing agricultural activities in conformance with soil conservation district guidelines;
F. Permit Thresholds.
1. Land clearing of less than a half an acre, over a six-year period, unless an associated land development permit has been issued; and
2. Any forest practice resulting in the cutting and/or removal of less than five thousand board feet of timber or less than a half an acre, whichever is greater, over a six-year period; and
G. Repair, structural modification of, addition to, or replacement of an existing nonconforming residential structure lawfully established prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter may be approved if the modification is consistent with Chapter 22.40 MMC. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))