BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Michael Feerer worries homes like those in Bellingham's heavily wooded Sudden Valley neighborhood could suddenly become a thing of the past.
"This is why we live here in western Washington," Feerer said. "We've got this wonderful tree canopy that's integrated with our homes."
Feerer, Executive Director of the Whatcom Million Trees Project, believes new state building codes aimed at making communities safer from wildfires will end up doing more harm than good.
"This has been flying under the radar," Feerer said. "When I heard about it, I was just in shock because the widespread impact is enormous, over time."
The codes would eliminate most trees within 30 feet of a new home. Between 30 and 100 feet from a home, trees must be thinned to at least 10 feet apart.
This only applies to new construction, not current homes, but Feerer said the effect on the environment will be substantial.
"Over time, this will literally remove hundreds of thousands of trees from our Western Washington landscape," Feerer said.
Between 2002 and 2016 the U.S. Fire Administration estimates more than 3,000 structures were lost each year to wildfires.
Another new rule will require all new homes or exterior remodels to install roofs, siding, decks, doors and windows made from fire-resistant materials.
That could potentially save property, but the Washington Building Industry Association said it will add at least $4,300 to the cost of a home.
Feerer said the rules are confusing, will hurt the fight against climate change, and contradict policies aimed at preserving trees.
"This is something that affects all communities of Western Washington," Feerer said.
The new rules are set to take effect on March 15, 2024.
Feerer started a campaign to petition the State Building Code Council (SBCC) to reconsider.
A spokesperson for the SBCC said "no proposal has been submitted" as an alternative to the regulations and one "could help SBCC better understand" concerns.
The spokesperson said SBCC is willing to "reevaluate and possibly amend" the defensible space requirements.
Opponents of the new codes plan to take their case to SBCC's monthly meeting in November, hoping to get the landscape rules thrown out.
"There's a lot of confusion out there about this, a lot of unanswered questions, and a lot of unintended consequences," Feerer said.