Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: As required by RCW 34.05.350, the department finds that the immediate amendment of WAC 458-30-200 is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

     Purpose: WAC 458-30-200 provides definitions for the terms used in conjunction with land classified under the Open Space Taxation Act, codified as chapter 84.34 RCW. The department has amended WAC 458-30-200 on an emergency basis to clarify that:

     (1) It is not necessary to breed animals to qualify for the "farm and agricultural land" classification; and

     (2) The sale of forage through the grazing of livestock, including equines, constitutes the sale of an agricultural product for purposes of chapter 84.34 RCW.

     The changes reflected in this rule are the same as those in the emergency rule adopted on December 31, 2008 (WSR 09-02-042).

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 458-30-200 Definitions.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 84.08.010, 84.08.070, 84.34.141, 84.34.020, and chapter 84.34 RCW.

     Other Authority: RCW 34.05.350.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

     Reasons for this Finding: Since November 14, 2008, at the request of the department of revenue, assessors and treasurers have delayed the involuntary removal of property from the "farm and agricultural land" classification to allow the department time to amend WAC 458-30-200 to address (1) the exclusion of land used for raising calves or piglets that are purchased rather than bred onsite and (2) the inconsistent classification of horse boarding operations among counties. The department amended WAC 458-30-200 on an emergency basis on December 31, 2008 (WSR 09-02-042) to assure that counties may timely complete their classification, assessment, collection and enforcement procedures, while assuring equal treatment for similarly situated taxpayers and the preservation of farmland intended to be preserved under Washington's Open Space Taxation Act.

     Legislation in this area was also introduced during the 2009 session. The legislature passed SHB 1733, which has been delivered to the governor for possible signing into law. This legislation expands the statutory definition of "farming and agricultural land" to include land put to specific equestrian-related uses. The department anticipates proceeding with rule making to amend the permanent WAC 458-30-200 consistent with SHB 1733, assuming the bill is signed into law. If the bill is not signed into law, the department will proceed with amending the permanent rule based on current law. A second emergency rule is needed at this time to assure equal treatment for similarly situated taxpayers and the preservation of farmland intended to be preserved under Washington's Open Space Taxation Act.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: April 29, 2009.

Alan R. Lynn

Rules Coordinator

OTS-2099.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-20-041, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/25/02)

WAC 458-30-200   Definitions.   (1) Introduction. This ((rule)) section provides definitions for the terms used in conjunction with land classified under the Open Space Taxation Act, codified as chapter 84.34 RCW. The terms listed in this ((rule)) section are intended to act in concert with each other as appropriate.

     (2) Definitions. For purposes of land classified under chapter 84.34 RCW, the following definitions apply:

     (a) "Additional tax" means the additional property taxes that will be collected when classification is withdrawn or removed from land classified under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (b) "Affidavit" means the real estate excise tax affidavit required by chapter 82.45 RCW and chapter 458-61 WAC. The affidavit will be prescribed by the department and furnished to county treasurers. This form is used by landowners to report sales or transfers of classified land. The owner or transferor and the purchaser or transferee, or agents of each, must sign the affidavit under penalty of perjury.

     (c) "Agreement" means an agreement executed between an owner and the granting authority regarding the classification of land as either open space or timber land under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (d) "Agricultural product" means livestock and plants useful to humans that are produced for commercial purposes and includes any agricultural, horticultural, or aquacultural produce or crop, or forage removed through the grazing of livestock, including equines; the raising of livestock, poultry, bees, or fur-bearing animals; or the production of milk, eggs, wool, fur, meat, honey, or other substances obtained therefrom. When used in relation to livestock or fur-bearing animals used for food or fiber, "raising" means breeding or increasing the value, size, or weight of the animal. On parcels of land less than twenty acres, the value of forage removed through the grazing of livestock is reported by the land owner to each county assessor in accordance with WAC 458-30-225 (3)(d) and 458-30-270.

     (e) "Applicant" means the owner who submits an application for classification of land under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (((e))) (f) "Application" means an application for classification of land under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (((f))) (g) "Approval" means a determination by the granting authority that land qualifies for classification under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (((g))) (h) "Appurtenance" refers to something used with, and related to or dependent upon another thing; that is, something that belongs to something else, an adjunct. The thing appurtenant is strictly necessary and essential to the proper use and enjoyment of the land, as well as useful or necessary for carrying out the purposes for which the land was classified under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (i) In terms of farm and agricultural land, an appurtenance is something used for a particular sort of farm and is widely and routinely used in the operation of the commercial agricultural enterprise.

     (ii) For example, an appurtenance may be an outhouse, barn, or tool shed attached to or adjoining a dwelling or it may be equipment used for a particular purpose or task, such as tools, instruments, or machinery.

     (((h))) (i) "Aquaculture" means the growing and harvesting of marine or fresh water flora or fauna in a soil or water medium for commercial agricultural activities.

     (((i))) (j) "Assessor" means the county assessor or any agency or person who is authorized to act on behalf of the assessor.

     (((j))) (k) "Assessment year" means the year in which the property is listed and valued by the assessor and precedes the year in which the taxes on the property are due and payable.

     (((k))) (l) "Change in use" means a direct action taken by an owner that actually changes the use of, or has started changing the use of, classified land to a use that is not in compliance with the conditions of the agreement executed between the owner and the granting authority or to a use that is otherwise not in compliance with the provisions of chapter 84.34 RCW (see WAC 458-30-295).

     (((l))) (m) "Classified land" means a parcel(s) of land that has been approved by the appropriate granting authority for taxation under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (((m))) (n) "Commercial agricultural purposes" means the use of land on a continuous and regular basis to produce an agricultural product for sale, prior to and subsequent to application for classification, that demonstrates that the owner or lessee is engaged in and intends to obtain through lawful means, a monetary profit from cash income ((received by engaging in the following commercial agricultural activities:

     (i) Raising, harvesting, and selling lawful crops;

     (ii) Feeding, breeding, managing, and selling of livestock, poultry, fur-bearing animals, or honey bees, or any products thereof;

     (iii) Dairying or selling of dairy products;

     (iv) Animal husbandry;

     (v) Aquaculture;

     (vi) Horticulture;

     (vii) Participating in a government-funded crop reduction or acreage set-aside program; or

     (viii) Cultivating Christmas trees or short-rotation hardwoods on land that has been prepared by intensive cultivation and tilling, such as by plowing or turning over the soil, and on which all unwanted plant growth is controlled continuously for the exclusive purpose of growing such trees)). In addition, commercial agricultural purposes include the following uses of agricultural land:

     (i) Land enrolled in the federal conservation reserve program or its successor administered by the United States department of agriculture;

     (ii) Land used for incidental uses that do not exceed twenty percent of the classified land and that are compatible with agricultural purposes;

     (iii) Land on which employee housing or the principal residence of the farm owner or operator is located, if the housing or residence is on or contiguous to a classified parcel of twenty acres or more, and the use of the housing or the residence is integral to the use of the classified land for agricultural purposes;

     (iv) Cultivating Christmas trees or short rotation hardwoods on land that has been prepared by intensive cultivation and tilling, such as by plowing or turning over the soil, and on which all unwanted plant growth is controlled continuously for the exclusive purpose of growing such trees.

     An owner or lessee must engage in commercial agricultural activities on the land to demonstrate a commercial agricultural purpose.

     (((n))) (o) "Contiguous" means land that adjoins other land owned by the same owner or held under the same ownership. Land that is an integral part of a farming operation is considered contiguous even though the land may be separated by a public road, railroad, right of way, or waterway.

     (((o))) (p) "County financial authority" and "financial authority" mean the treasurer or any agency or person charged with the responsibility of billing and collecting property taxes.

     (((p))) (q) "County legislative authority" means the county commission, council, or other legislative body.

     (((q))) (r) "County recording authority" means the auditor or any agency or person charged with the recording of documents.

     (((r))) (s) "Current" and "currently" means as of the date on which property is to be listed and valued by the assessor.

     (((s))) (t) "Current use value" means the taxable value of a parcel of land placed on the assessment rolls following its classification under chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (((t))) (u) "Department" means the department of revenue.

     (((u))) (v) "Farm woodlot" means an area of land within a parcel(s) of classified farm and agricultural land that is used in a manner compatible with commercial agricultural activities including, but not limited to, the growing and cutting of trees for the use of the owner or the sheltering of livestock.

     (((v))) (w) "Granting authority" means the appropriate agency or official that acts on an application for classification under chapter 84.34 RCW. The granting authority for:

     (i) Open space classification under RCW 84.34.020(1) and 84.34.037 is the county legislative authority. However, for applications within an incorporated area of a county, the granting authority is made up of three members of the county legislative body and three members of the city legislative body in the county in which the land is located;

     (ii) Farm and agricultural classification under RCW 84.34.020(2) and 84.34.035 is the assessor or the assessor's designee; and

     (iii) Timber land classification under RCW 84.34.020(3) and 84.34.041 is the county legislative authority. However, for applications within an incorporated area of a county, the granting authority is made up of three members of the county legislative body and three members of the city legislative body in the county in which the land is located.

     (((w))) (x) "Gross income" means cash income derived from commercial agricultural activities, including payments received from the United States Department of Agriculture for participating in a crop reduction or acreage set-aside program when such payments are based on the productive capacity of the land. The term shall not include the following:

     (i) The value of any products produced on the land and consumed by the owner or lessee; however, the value of forage removed through the grazing of livestock is included in "gross income," if the grazing produces cash income;

     (ii) Cash income derived from leases for the use of the land for noncommercial agricultural activities; or

     (iii) Payments for soil conservation programs.

     (((x))) (y) "Incidental use" means a use of land classified as farm and agricultural land that is compatible with commercial agricultural activities if it does not exceed twenty percent of the classified land. An incidental use may include, but is not limited to, wetland preservation, a gravel pit, a farm woodlot, or a produce stand.

     (((y))) (z) "Integral" means that which is central to or inherent in the use or operation of classified farm and agricultural land for commercial agricultural activities.

     (((z))) (aa) "Interest" means the amount of applicable interest upon additional tax.

     (((aa))) (bb) "Net cash rental" means the earning or productive capacity of farm and agricultural land less the production costs customarily or typically paid by an owner or landlord. See WAC 458-30-260 for a more detailed explanation.

     (((bb))) (cc) "Notice of continuance" means the notice signed when land classified under chapter 84.34 RCW is sold or transferred if the new owner of the land intends to continue the classified use of the land and elects to have the land remain classified under chapter 84.34 RCW. This notice is part of the real estate excise tax affidavit or may be a separate document prepared by the department and attached to this affidavit.

     (((cc))) (dd) "Owner" means:

     (i) Any person(s) having a fee interest in a parcel of land; or

     (ii) The contract vendee when the land is subject to a real estate contract.

     (((dd))) (ee) "Parcel of land" means a property identified as such on the assessment roll. For purposes of chapter 84.34 RCW and this WAC chapter, a parcel shall not include any land area not owned by the applicant including, but not limited to, a public road, right of way, railroad, or waterway.

     (((ee))) (ff) "Penalty" means the amount due when land is removed from classification under chapter 84.34 RCW. The amount of the penalty is equal to twenty percent of the additional tax and interest calculated in accordance with RCW 84.34.080 or 84.34.108.

     (((ff))) (gg) "Planning authority" means the local government agency empowered by the appropriate legislative authority to develop policies and proposals relating to land use.

     (((gg))) (hh) "Primary use" means the existing use of a parcel or parcels of land so prevalent that when the characteristic use of the land is evaluated a conflicting or nonrelated use appears to be very limited or excluded.

     (((hh))) (ii) "Qualification of land" means the approval of an application for classification of land by a granting authority in accordance with chapter 84.34 RCW.

     (((ii))) (jj) "Rating system" means a public benefit rating system adopted for classified open space land according to RCW 84.34.055.

     (((jj))) (kk) "Reclassification" means the process by which land classified under chapter 84.34 or 84.33 RCW is changed from one classification to a different classification established by chapter 84.34 RCW or into forest land as described in chapter 84.33 RCW. For example, land classified as farm and agricultural land under RCW 84.34.020(2) may be reclassified as open space land under RCW 84.34.020(1).

     (((kk))) (ll) "Removal" or "removed" means land classified under chapter 84.34 RCW is removed from classification by the assessor either because the owner requests removal, the new owner fails to sign the notice of classification continuance, or the land is no longer being used for the purpose for which classification was granted.

     (((ll))) (mm) "Sale of ownership" means the conveyance of the ownership of a parcel of land in exchange for valuable consideration.

     (((mm))) (nn) "Tax year" means the year when property tax is due and payable.

     (((nn))) (oo) "Timber management plan" means the plan filed with the county legislative authority or the assessor when classified timber land is sold or transferred. It is synonymous with a "forest management plan" and details an owner's plan regarding the management of classified timber land including, but not limited to, the planting, growing and/or harvesting of timber. The elements of such a plan are set forth in WAC 458-30-232.

     (((oo))) (pp) "Transfer" means the conveyance of the ownership of a parcel of land without an exchange of valuable consideration and may include situations where classified land is donated to an owner, corporation, partnership, or limited liability corporation.

     (((pp))) (qq) "True and fair value" is the value of a parcel of land placed on the assessment rolls at its highest and best use without regard to its current use. The term also refers to market value, that is, the amount of money a buyer of property willing, but not obligated to buy would pay a seller of property willing but not obligated to sell, taking into consideration all uses to which the property is adapted and might reasonably be applied.

     (((qq))) (rr) "Withdrawal" or "withdrawn" means action taken by the owner of land classified under chapter 84.34 RCW by filing a notice of request to withdraw the land from classification under the current use program in compliance with RCW 84.34.070. Once land has been classified under chapter 84.34 RCW, it must remain so classified for at least ten years from the date of classification. At any time after eight years of the initial ten-year classification period have elapsed, the owner may file a notice of request to withdraw all or a portion of the land from classification with the assessor of the county in which the land is located. Land is withdrawn from classification as a result of a voluntary act by the owner.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 84.34.141, 84.34.020, and 84.34.030. 02-20-041, § 458-30-200, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/25/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 84.34.141. 01-24-030, § 458-30-200, filed 11/27/01, effective 12/28/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 84.08.110, 84.08.070, 84.34.141 and 84.34.360. 95-21-002, § 458-30-200, filed 10/4/95, effective 11/4/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 84.08.010 and 84.08.070. 90-24-087, § 458-30-200, filed 12/5/90, effective 1/5/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 84.08.010(2), 84.34.141 and chapter 84.34 RCW. 88-23-062 (Order PT 88-12), § 458-30-200, filed 11/15/88.]

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