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Forest Practice Permits (FPA) are administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for logging and other activities in forested areas. They are generally applicable to forest lands intended to remain as forest lands. A Forest Practice Permit can be classified as Class I, II, III, or IV.
Revised Code of Washington 76.09.050 states that Class IV General forest practices are forest practices that are conducted on (1) lands platted after January 1, 1960, (2) lands that have or are being converted to another use, or (3) forest practices which would otherwise be Class III but which are taking place on lands that are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development.
Prior to applying for a Class IV General forest practice permit, landowners must first secure an State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Threshold Determination from Grays Harbor County.
To enquire further about DNR requirements for a COHP, please contact the Olympic Regional Office at (360) 374-2800, or by email at Olympic.region@dnr.wa.gov.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To request a SEPA environmental threshold determination from the County, the land owner must:
- Obtain a Land Use Application and SEPA Checklist from the Grays Harbor County Planning and Building Division. The applications are also available on the internet at the following link: http://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/pub_svcs/PlanningDocs/PDF/landuse.pdf
- Complete the Land Use Application and attach a copy of the completed Forest Practices Permit Application and SEPA checklist. It is important to indicate, in detail, the land use activity for which the Class IV General permit is being requested. If the development activity is the construction of a single-family home include a site map indicating the location of the home with respect to the harvest unit. Indicate all access points and proposed roads.
- Submit the complete application package to the Grays Harbor County Planning and Building Division along with a fee of $713. The application package and fee may be mailed to 100 W. Broadway, Suite 31, Montesano, WA 98563. The Planning and Building Division cannot accept incomplete application packages.
The SEPA Environmental Threshold Determination process takes approximately 1 month to complete. 
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
- GHCC Title 14 - Forest Practices
- RCW 76.09 - Washington State Forest Practices Act
- Site Plan
- Fee Schedule
- COHP
- Development Moratorium
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
For more information regarding the Class IV Permit Environmental Threshold Determination process, please contact the Grays Harbor County Planning and Building Division at (360) 249-4222 or by email at pbd@graysharbor.us.
