Senate Committee hears Ag Structure Bill
jgiuntoli February 5th, 2009
The Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee recently heard testimony on Senate Bill 5120 (Regarding agricultural structures). Under this measure, the permitting fee for an agricultural structure may not exceed the lower of the actual cost of administration, or $75; The bill defines specialty agricultural structures as structures that are designed and constructed to house farm equipment, hay, grain, poultry, livestock, and other horticultural products; and states that human habitation, public use, and employment where agricultural products are processed, treated, or packaged are not permitted uses of a specialty agricultural building.
This was an issue that was discussed in the Office of Farmland Preservation Report to the Commission as being important to the preservation of farmland and recommended that the state enact a new state-wide exemption for agricultural structures with clear criteria for receiving the exemption. The Task Force recommends establishing an educational program to distinguish between commercial agricultural structures and non-commercial agricultural structures.
Washington currently does not have a state-wide agricultural exemption on agriculture structures. Washington does have an exemption for temporary growing structures used for commercial production of horticultural plants (RCW 19.27.065). However, this is limited to structures with the roof and sides covered in a flexible synthetic material. Adding to the issue is the wide range of agriculture structure permit costs county by county. In the Northwest, both Oregon and Idaho exempt agricultural buildings from building codes and permitting.