Several neighbors have raised a fair question: what happens to yard-maintenance expectations when the state is telling everyone to use less water? Here is the Board’s position, in plain terms.
What the Law Says
On April 8, 2026, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued a drought declaration covering all watersheds in the state, which includes Mason County and Belfair. As of this posting, that declaration remains in effect. It is the state’s fourth consecutive drought year.
RCW 64.38.057 provides that where a property sits inside the geographic area of a drought condition order issued by the Department of Ecology, an association “may not sanction or 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.”
That protection is automatic. You do not need to apply for it or notify anyone.
What This Does and Doesn’t Cover
The protection is specific to watering. It does not switch off the rest of the landscaping standards, and the distinction matters:
- Covered. A lawn that has gone dormant, browned, or thinned because you cut back or stopped watering.
- Not covered. Debris, yard waste dumped on adjoining lots or in the street, dead shrubs and branches left in place, overgrowth encroaching on sidewalks, or a yard that has been abandoned rather than conserved.
In other words: a dry lawn is fine. A neglected yard is a separate issue.
Drought-Resistant Landscaping Is Protected Too
Separately from the drought order, Washington law does not allow HOA governing documents to prohibit drought-resistant landscaping, pollinator habitat, or wildfire ignition-resistant landscaping. The Association may still apply reasonable placement and appearance standards, and visible exterior work should still go through the ACC request process — but the ACC does not use that process to prohibit or unreasonably restrict qualifying installations. See the Washington compliance notes and the community rules for details.
If you are thinking about converting turf to something more drought-tolerant, this is a good year to ask.
If You Received a Letter
If you received a yard-maintenance notice and believe it was about reduced watering during the drought, contact the Board and say so. We will review it. Under the enforcement policy you may also submit a written appeal to J&M Management within 48 hours of a notice, but for this particular issue we would rather hear from you directly and sort it out.
The Board would rather correct a notice than defend one.
Checking Current Status
Drought declarations are issued and lifted by the state, not by the Association. Current statewide conditions are published on the Department of Ecology’s drought response page .