Here's a e.g of what's happening around me ...
The city of Bellevue is currently updating its critical areas ordinances, and the planners want to declare many already landscaped yards as new "critical areas" requiring tighter regulation, affecting the ability of homeowners to remodel or maintain their yards the same as they have been. Those living adjacent to waterways or wetlands would be required to convert landscaping to native plants at their own expense.
...
One of the many new regulations contained in these new ordinances is a clearing limit for unimproved properties zoned RA. The limits are 50% up to and including 5-acre parcels. Parcels larger than 5 acres can clear 2.5 acres or 35%, which ever is larger. The remaining 50% to 65% of your land will be restricted to growing native vegetation. No mowing, no pastures, no gardens, and no orchards.
*without compenensation for the landowners who now cannot use 50%/65% of THEIR land* ...
