Your Home Town Bulletin • April 2026

Join us for the ROA Annual Meeting

The beginning of spring seems like a good time to revisit how things work (or should work) in Northwest Landing. April is also when elections are held for the board of directors and our annual meeting is held. This year, the annual meeting will be held at Best Western-Liberty Inn and will also be available on Zoom. In the past decade, fewer than 40 homeowners have attended the annual meeting. In most associations, that’s when votes are cast for the board of directors. We now use the annual meeting as an opportunity to present an overview of revenue and expenses, and answer questions from members. If you own property in Northwest Landing, you are a member of the association. The Northwest Landing ROA Annual Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. We need to know if you plan to join the meeting so that we can plan for the number of participants. We will use the list of the owners who RSVP will be used as a sign-in sheet of the owners to compare with those who sign in to join the meeting. If you plan to join the meeting, please email  to reserve by April 20. If you didn’t RSVP on time, and still want to join the meeting, you may still be accepted into the meeting, if we have not already met the limited capacity for Zoom. Owners who RSVP by April 20 will be entered into a drawing for gift baskets.

Vote for board members by April 16

All residents should have received an annual meeting and voting notice in U.S. mail. If you didn’t receive it or misplaced it, you can find the mailing in the ROA member login. After logging in, go to “Documents,” then “Notices-Mailings.” Information about just the board nominees can be downloaded here: 2026 Board Nominees. Thank you to the nine ROA members who stepped up to run for the board of directors! Two board positions are open, so please vote. You should also receive an email message from Vote HOA with instructions for voting for ROA board members. If you don’t receive an email, please send a message to  so we can add your email address. We started working with Vote•HOA•Now three years ago, which also marks the first time in many years that we have reached quorum. We are required to collect votes from 10 percent of members for the board election to be valid. For the past three years, we’ve managed to collect votes from more than 25 percent of members!

March – in like a lion…out like a BEAR

Sometime in March, the 20,000+ black bears in Washington state wake up from their long winter’s nap. A few are showing up in DuPont, especially in neighborhoods that border our woodlands.

Please call DuPont Police to report bear sightings. Call the non-emergency number – 253-287-4455, if you have evidence of a bear’s visit (torn down fence, bird feeders destroyed). If you see a bear NOW, call 911. Why? Because bears can be a public safety hazard, especially if you are unwittingly feeding them with your bountiful trash can or tasty bird feeders. DuPont Police will alert the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

< The young bear pictured here was spotted on the Edmond Marsh Trail (that’s a runner in the background) on a June morning.

Living with Wildlife: Be Bear Aware (WDFW)

 

 

Please pick up after your dog!

ROA staff members have been getting complaints about people not picking up after their dogs. This is a typical call: “Please tell people who walk their dogs to not to let them poop on people’s lawns, on the sidewalks or in the street without picking it up.  Once again there is someone walking their dog and they are laying their land mines on my lawn or on the sidewalk in front of my house and I have to clean it up.”

The City of DuPont hosts dog cleanup stations throughout the community with disposable bags and trash bins. Please pick up after your dog and dispose in a trash container. We live directly above salmon-bearing streams and Puget Sound. Bacteria from pet waste eventually ends up in Puget Sound. And droppings can end up on your unhappy neighbor’s shoes before then!

Who to call – city or ROA

If something is on a city street, grass strip between sidewalk and street, park, or trail, the City of DuPont has jurisdiction. That includes lost dogs, dangerous or sick wild animals, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, and fallen trees. Go to Report a Problem on the city’s website.  

If something is in an alleyway or a greenspace/pocket park (most have red benches), Northwest Landing ROA has jurisdiction. Call 253-964-1289 or email .

The Northwest Landing website hosts a Who You Gonna Call webpage which includes common topics our office gets questions about.

Community-wide yard sale dates

Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, and Saturday, September 12, are the yard sale dates for Northwest Landing this year. Please note that yard sales are not sponsored by either the Northwest Landing ROA or the City of DuPont. Governing documents for Northwest Landing state that yard sales may be held two times a year and are announced by the ROA. If there is enough interest to hold a two-day yard sale in September, we will announce that later this year. The City of DuPont is hosting Big Bargain Bonanza at Clocktower Park on May 30 with 20-by-20-foot spaces for $25. 

Take your spring cleaning outside too

Spring is a really good time to take care of maintenance on the outside of our homes. Our wet climate in Washington can add moss and mildew on the exterior siding of the home, rooftops, fences, and retaining walls. Our planting beds and shrubs also need general weeding and pruning as we prepare to plant colorful flowers to welcome the change in the season.

The purpose of an owner’s association is to protect the value of our homes and community. Owners may notice the Northwest Landing truck making its way through the community on inspections. This is just one of the ways we keep standards consistent across the more than 2,800 homes in Northwest Landing. Owners whose homes need some attention receive a courtesy letter outlining what needs to be done to bring the home back into compliance.

We understand that living in a community with a community association comes with shared guidelines, and our goal is to help make those expectations as clear and manageable as possible. In a neighborhood this size, the most consistent way staff can communicate with homeowners about a maintenance concern is by sending a courtesy letter. This gives homeowners clear direction and time to take care of what’s needed.

We recognize that life happens. If you need a little extra time—whether you’re planning to tackle the work yourself or bring in a contractor—our team is here to work with you. Communication is key. We’re just an email or phone call away at or 253-964-1289.

We are also seeing an increase in property improvements such as roof replacements, fence installations, planting bed modifications, tree removals, and more. Be sure to submit your request form for approval by the Property Improvement Committee (PIC) before any work begins. While property improvements are exciting, they can also be costly. Getting approval in advance helps prevent frustration and avoids additional expenses if changes or removal of unapproved work are required to bring it into compliance.

As we head into a new season, a little attention to our homes-inside and out-goes a long way in keeping our community a place we’re all proud to live in. Thank you for partnering with us to care for your home and our community.

Get ready for a fabulous 4th in DuPont

If you are a new resident of DuPont, you might wonder whether there will be 250th anniversary celebrations this year. Your Northwest Landing Residential Owners Association is a proud sponsor of everything red, white and blue on Independence Day, including the pancake breakfast, hometown parade, festivities in the park and the much-anticipated fireworks show! This year, as we honor our country’s 250th birthday, we invite you adorn your home in its patriotic finest. Prizes will be given for Most Patriotic, People’s Choice, and Best Front Porch. Sign up details and judging dates for the Patriotic Decorating Contest will be included in the May bulletin. More information about America 250 in DuPont.

 

 

Northwest Landing Events


REGISTER FOR EVENTS HERE

 

Board of Directors – 3 p.m. • Wednesday • April 8 – via Zoom– reservations required by April 7. Call 253-964-1289 or email  to reserve. On Zoom. Please contact staff at  if you have questions or concerns a violation notice or want to report a problem with a Northwest Landing property. Board meetings scheduled for 2026: April 8-5:30 p.m., May 21-3 p.m., June 18-3 p.m., July 22-5:30 p.m., August 20-3 p.m., October 7-5:30 p.m., December 17-3 p.m.

Property Improvement Committee (PIC) – meetings are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. – 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, plus March 31, June 30, and September 29. Except for underground irrigation systems, this committee must review all exterior modifications, including painting, roofing, adding central air conditioning, heat pump or solar panels, fences, sheds, patio covers, decks, landscape renovations, adding or removing trees. Some projects may also require a city permit. Underground irrigation systems require a city permit. Property Improvement forms can be downloaded from the homeowner’s portal on the website. Go to Member Logins. After you login, click on Documents, then open the folder Property Improvement Committee Forms. Call 253-964-1289 if you need help finding PIC forms.

 

Residential New Construction Committee (RNCC) – meetings are scheduled at 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. as necessary – 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, plus March 31, June 30, and September 29. This committee must review all new construction, for example a home addition, or a new home, and appeals of decisions made by the Property Improvement Committee.

 

 

Dear ROA,

I just received a past-due notice that was three pages long and had threats of collection and legal fees. Seriously? I owe $46!  

 

             – Ticked-off resident

Dear Ticked-off,

We get it! You owe $46 and you received a lengthy mailing with bolded sentences and underlines. Here’s why: Washington legislators passed a new law that impacts all community associations called the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, or WUCIOA. This act went into effect on January 1, 2026. There are many requirements that associations now have. One of those requirements is that the first notice of outstanding amounts owed must include language that shows how the association has a right to collect funds. Your ROA is also required to send letters to all addresses provided by the owner. So, if you own several properties and lease them out, you might receive more than one letter. The letter mailing system also sometimes sends two letters to the same address. Overkill? Maybe or maybe not. State legislators responded to feedback from association members and owners who were unaware of their financial obligations and possible consequences of not paying fees. There have been instances where a homeowner didn’t realize there are penalties and potential legal fees that can be applied to delinquent payments. This is just one of many new WUCIOA requirements – some in effect this year and more that are scheduled to take effect by January 1, 2028. The law requires that this message be included in a first notice of non-payment: This is a notice of delinquency for past due assessments from the unit owners association to which your home belongs. This notice is one step in a process that could result in your losing your home.

Community association members are encouraged to communicate your viewpoints to Washington legislators. Find your legislators here.

Have a question for Ask ROA? Send a message to

 

 

 

Lawns, shrubs and trees – time to show them some love

Lawns: Grass in western Washington usually doesn’t grow much during the colder months. Then it’s spring and lawns turn into jungles! Mid-April through mid-May is the time for lawn fertilizing and reseeding. Northwest Landing front yards are required to be 50% grass or evergreen ground cover. See Washington State University’s Home Lawn Guide for tips.

Healthy lawns need regular weeding, keep lawn clear of moss, clover and dandelions. Repair and reseed bare spots. Mow lawns to maintain a height less than four inches. Edge lawns should along driveways, curbs, and sidewalks. All lawn clippings blown onto streets, driveways, and sidewalks should be removed after mowing. You may allow your lawn to go dormant in the summer but be sure to water once or twice weekly, so it doesn’t completely die. Also be sure to remove weeds.

Washington State University’s suggested timeline for fertilizing lawns in western Washington is November 15–December 7, April 15, June 15, and September 1. 

Shrubs and trees: Be sure to maintain plants and shrubs in a healthy condition and remove any dead plant material. Prune plants and shrubs below windowsills – don’t block the window. Also be sure that plants and shrubs are pruned to prevent them from growing onto the roof and siding.  Maintain clearance around the house numbers as not to block visibility of the house numbers. Water a minimum of twice per week to maintain healthy plants.

Trim trees and other plantings so anyone walking on sidewalks and home walkways can clear them. The City of DuPont requires adjacent property owners to maintain and water trees and ground cover in parking strips. If a tree dies, the homeowner is responsible for replacing it. The city requires a permit for tree removal and planting: City of DuPont Tree Permit. These trees should also be pruned to prevent damage to parked vehicles.

 Living fences: In Northwest Landing, plants identified as living fences are three or more trees and most are arborvitae. Fences may be no taller than 6 feet and trees bordering the inside or outside of fences should be kept no taller than 8 feet.

NOTE: All trees must be approved by the Property Improvement Committee. If you are adding one shrub, approval is not required but is if you are planting more than one. The City of DuPont also requires a permit for tree remove and planting: City of DuPont Tree Information.

 If you have suggestions about plants and plant care for the bulletin, email

City of DuPont Events

Kids Super Spring Break Camp • Monday-Thursday • April 6-9 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m. • fun, creativity, and active play for children in grades 1–6.

Senior Lunch & Movie • April 21 • May 5 • June 16 • $15 plus tax • register in advance, meet at city hall. Transportation not included.

Spring Cleanup • Saturday • April 25 • 8 a.m. • In coordination with LeMay Pierce County Refuse, residents can set out unwanted items for curbside pickup only. No bulk drop-off site will be available. Items must be bagged or boxed (45 lbs. maximum per item) and placed at your regular pickup location by 8 a.m. No hazardous materials are not accepted. This includes antifreeze, flammable liquids, fluorescent bulbs, oil-based paints, insecticides, yard and garden chemicals. 

Savvy Seniors • Wednesdays • 1-3 p.m. • DuPont Community Center • Calling all seniors interested in meeting others, playing cards, working on puzzles, doing crafts or listening to a guest speaker.

Teen Programs • Dungeons & Dragons Club, Thursdays, 4:30-6:30 p.m. • Knitting Club, Sundays, 10-11 a.m.

DuPont Farmers Market • season opens Thursday • June 4 • 3-7 p.m.

 

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