(1) The declaration of a common interest ownership and any governing documents adopted by an association may not prohibit the installation of drought resistant landscaping or wildfire ignition resistant landscaping. However, the declaration or governing documents may include reasonable rules regarding the placement and aesthetic appearance of drought resistant landscaping or wildfire ignition resistant landscaping, as long as the rules do not render the use of drought resistant landscaping or wildfire ignition resistant landscaping unreasonably costly or otherwise effectively infeasible.

(2) If a property is located within the geographic designation of an order of a drought condition issued by the department of ecology under RCW 43.83B.405, an association may not impose a fine or assessment against an owner, or resident on the owner’s property, for reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns for the duration of the drought condition order.

(3) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit or restrict the establishment and maintenance of a fire buffer within the building ignition zone.

(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) “Building ignition zone” means a building and surrounding area up to two hundred feet from the foundation.

(b) “Drought resistant landscaping” means the use of any noninvasive vegetation adapted to arid or dry conditions, stone, or landscaping rock.

(c) “Firewise” means the firewise communities program developed by the national fire protection association, which encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in the effort to protect people and property from wildfire risks.

(d) “Wildfire ignition resistant landscaping” includes:

(i) Any landscaping tools or techniques, or noninvasive vegetation, that do not readily ignite from a flame or other ignition source; or

(ii) The use of firewise methods to reduce ignition risk in a building ignition zone.

Findings—Intent—2020 c 9: See note following RCW 64.38.057.