BILL REQ. #:  H-3347.2 

Read first time 01/13/2004.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to prohibiting local governments from limiting citizens' ability to protect their homes from fires by trimming or removing potentially dangerous trees or vegetation near their homes; adding a new section to chapter 36.70A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.63 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.63 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 36.70 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No county or city may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation, or official control, policy, or administrative practice that prohibits the owner of a residential dwelling with potentially flammable roofing material from trimming or removing trees or vegetation surrounding the dwelling in all directions in an area equal to the maximum site potential tree height for fire suppression purposes.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "site potential tree height" means a distance equal to the height of the tallest tree that can grow on that site.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No city or town may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation, or official control, policy, or administrative practice that prohibits the owner of a residential dwelling with potentially flammable roofing material from trimming or removing trees or vegetation surrounding the dwelling in all directions in an area equal to the maximum site potential tree height for fire suppression purposes.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "site potential tree height" means a distance equal to the height of the tallest tree that can grow on that site.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 35.63 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No county or city may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation, or official control, policy, or administrative practice that prohibits the owner of a residential dwelling with potentially flammable roofing material from trimming or removing trees or vegetation surrounding the dwelling in all directions in an area equal to the maximum site potential tree height for fire suppression purposes.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "site potential tree height" means a distance equal to the height of the tallest tree that can grow on that site.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 35A.63 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No city may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation, or official control, policy, or administrative practice that prohibits the owner of a residential dwelling with potentially flammable roofing material from trimming or removing trees or vegetation surrounding the dwelling in all directions in an area equal to the maximum site potential tree height for fire suppression purposes.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "site potential tree height" means a distance equal to the height of the tallest tree that can grow on that site.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 36.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) No county may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation, or official control, policy, or administrative practice that prohibits the owner of a residential dwelling with potentially flammable roofing material from trimming or removing trees or vegetation surrounding the dwelling in all directions in an area equal to the maximum site potential tree height for fire suppression purposes.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "site potential tree height" means a distance equal to the height of the tallest tree that can grow on that site.