Thurston County, Washington

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 19

County facilities will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
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Thurston County Washington

Community Planning and Economic Development

Open Space Tax Program

What is the Open Space Program?

Washington's State Legislature requires county governments to conserve agriculture and timber lands. With Thurston County government's Open Space Tax Program, owners of certain types of high-quality undeveloped land may apply for a property tax reduction in exchange for maintaining their land in a rural, undeveloped state.  

Program Requirements

  • Decide which program to apply for
    • Community Planning division manages the Open Space & Timber Land applications on this page.
    • The Assessor's Office manages Forest, Farm and Agriculture applications. Find forms and information on their Property Tax Relief Programs page under Current Use Classifications tab.
  • Fill out and submit the correct application forms below to the county's Community Planning division.
  • Pay the application fee.  (For 2026, that fee is $236 plus a 5% technology fee.)
  • Applications go through a public review & hearing process.
    • That's because the taxes reduced for properties in the program are shifted to community taxpayers. Because of this, and other potential effects upon the general public interest, applications for the open space classification properties are subject to a public process that includes public hearings.
    • There may be an exception to the tax shift if a taxing district's statutory rate limits have been reached. However, the district receives less tax revenue, and may reduce public services or facilities. Besides being a tax-related decision, the approval of an application for current use classification is also a land use decision. If the County grants the special privilege of reduced taxes for a specific land use, then it needs to be sure that the land use is appropriate for its location, and will not result in conflicts with neighbors.
  • There are penalties for early withdrawal.
    • A nine-year minimum time in the program applies. Applicants who leave the program early may owe back taxes, interest and penalties.

Learn more

Application Forms & Instructions

Open Space 

Application  |  Checklist  |  Instructions  |  Process  | Eligibility Criteria  | Rating System  |   Contact List
 

Timber Lands 

Application  |  Checklist  |  Instructions  |  Process  |  Eligibility Criteria  |  Contact List

2025 Applications Submitted to Date

Roland and Cindy Gorgas

Public hearing scheduled on August 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM at 3000 Pacific Ave SE.

2023 Approved Applicants

There were two Open Space Tax Program application submitted in 2023. Both were approved by the Board of County Commissioners after public hearings.

Clark & Joan Clements
James Terry

2022 Approved Applicants

There was only one Open Space Tax Program application submitted in 2021, and it was approved by the Board of County Commissioners following a public hearing on August 30, 2022. Details below: