Landscaping Rules in Island County, WA (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Island County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area of unincorporated Island County, site design must avoid or minimize removal of significant trees, defined as any healthy evergreen or deciduous tree at least 12 inches in diameter measured 4 feet above grade. Island County Code Section 17.06.520 makes retaining existing significant trees and groves a higher priority than installing new landscaping on qualifying development sites.
Island County Freeland Tree Retention Rule
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.06.520
B.Applicability.1.The provisions of this section shall apply to all development in the Freeland NMUGA excluding single-family developments of less than five (5) lots. ... 6.It is a higher priority to protect and maintain existing significant trees and/or groves in their present location than it is to establish new landscaped areas.a.Building, site, and landscaping shall be designed to first avo...
Composting
In unincorporated Island County, small-scale composting is exempt from the county's solid waste handling permit under Island County Code § 8.08B.150, but only within hard caps: containerized food-waste composting tops out at ten cubic yards total, and open-pile yard-debris composting at forty cubic yards on-site at any one time. Exceed those limits, or ignore odor and vector controls, and the Health Department can require a full solid waste permit.
Home Composting Rules in Island County
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 8.08B.150
c.Composting of Type 1 or Type 2 feedstocks with a volume limit of forty (40) cubic yards of material on-site at any time. Material on-site includes feedstocks, partially composted feedstocks, and finished compost;d.Composting of food waste generated on-site and composted in containers designed to prohibit vector attraction and prevent nuisance odor generation. Total volume of the containers sh...
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