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What started as a trail camera set up to catch glimpses of local wildlife quickly turned into a multimillion-dollar legal bombshell.
A homeowner in Issaquah’s Grand Ridge Park ended up catching something entirely unexpected: a tree hurtling down a hillside.
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“Pretty much every day we see a bear coming by that camera, bobcats, cougars, the occasional mountain lion,” Alex Brown, the homeowner who installed the motion-triggered camera, told KING 5. Brown added, “To see a tree just flying down the hill like a javelin was pretty alarming.”
What he discovered when he hiked up further to investigate was even more shocking, and soon ignited a legal firestorm involving more than 140 felled trees.
‘Serious and generational harm’
Upon exploring the area, Brown said that he “found that quite a few trees had been cut up there within the park boundary,” adding, “A lot of them are still lying on that slope, which is alarming to those of us living down here.”
King County has now filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $7 million in damages, accusing several Issaquah homeowners of illegally cutting down 142 trees, many classified as “significant,” allegedly for the purpose of scoring a better view of West Tiger Mountain.
“This unlawful act caused serious and generational harm to a protected natural area,” said King County Parks Director Warren Jimenez in a statement. He added that the cuts violated county codes, disrupted the wildlife habitat and damaged decades of public investment in conservation.
KING 5 spoke with one of the named homeowners in the lawsuit, who claimed the tree-cutting was done legally and for his family’s safety. But county officials aren’t convinced.
Dos and don’ts as a homeowner
You do have freedoms as a homeowner in the U.S., but those freedoms stop when they infringe on public safety, environmental integrity, neighbor rights, or zoning laws. That’s why it’s important to do your homework before swinging that sledgehammer or aiming that chainsaw.
What you can do
While you’ll want to research the specific laws pertaining to the project you want to carry out, these are general guidelines about what you’re typically allowed to do.
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Home improvements: You can remodel, add rooms or build a deck, but projects that go beyond a simple repair or visual upgrade usually require a permit from your local building department. If you skip this step, you can expect delays, fines, or even forced demolition.
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Rent your property: Be sure to check local bylaws based on where you live, because every city, county and zoning board writes its own rules.
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Landscape paradise: Want a backyard oasis? Go for it, but watch water‐use laws in drought zones and be careful not to disturb wildlife habitats (especially in conservation landscapes).
Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here’s how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis
What you can’t do
Here are some things you shouldn’t do if you don’t want to get in trouble:
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Cut down trees without permission: Even if they are in your own yard, many cities and states require permits before removing trees. Fines and requirements often depend on tree size, species, or location.
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DIY without necessary permits: Building a fence, shed, or even a pool without pulling proper permits? Local authorities can issue a stop-work order, force you to tear it all down and slap you with a fine.
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Be a noisy neighbor: If you have constant noise, bright lights, or strong odors emitting from your property, you could pay $20,000 to $50,000 in damages under local nuisance laws.
Hassle-free property ownership
If you’re only interested in buying a home to use it as an investment, there are many other ways to do so without the headaches of owning one outright. Whether you have $100, $25,000, $50,000 or more to invest, you can get on the property ladder without needing to worry about any of those homeowner downsides mentioned above.
If you’re not an accredited investor, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.
Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.
The platform is backed by world-class investor, Jeff Bezos, and helps you tap into the real estate market without any of the hassles of owning property outright. Browse the full list of available properties on their website.
Homeshares gives accredited investors access to the $34.9 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.
With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — allowing you to invest directly into the untapped value of residential properties without the nuisance of buying, owning or managing them yourself.
With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, Homeshares can be an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across markets.
And then there’s First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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