Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Environment & Energy Committee
HB 1240
Brief Description: Adding seaplanes to the class of conveyances that may be moored pursuant to RCW 79.105.430.
Sponsors: Representative MacEwen.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Adds seaplanes to the class of conveyances that may be moored at private recreational docks and mooring buoys.
Hearing Date: 2/2/21
Staff: Robert Hatfield (786-7117) and Erik Olson (786-7296).
Background:

State Management of Aquatic Lands.
 
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages more than 2.6 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands.  "Aquatic lands" means all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters.


Private Recreational Docks and Mooring Buoys.
 
If a person owns a residence abutting state-owned aquatic land, he or she may install and maintain a dock or mooring buoy at no charge on the state-owned aquatic land.  This privilege is allowed only for docks and mooring buoys used exclusively for private recreational boats and on areas not subject to prior rights.  Permission to build a dock is subject to applicable local regulations.  The DNR may revoke permission to maintain a dock if it is necessary to protect the waterward access or ingress of other landowners or the public health and safety.  
Summary of Bill:

Recreational seaplanes may be moored at private docks and buoys over state-owned aquatic lands in the same manner that recreational boats may be moored at such docks and buoys.  The authority to moor seaplanes at the private docks and buoys is subject to the same limitations and conditions that apply to the moorage of boats at these docks and buoys.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.