Tree removal permits in City of Bellevue: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a tree removal permit in City of Bellevue, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Bellevue Development Services.
Free lookup, no account needed — your lot polygon, zoning, setbacks and overlays, cited to City of Bellevue's source.
When does a tree removal need a permit in City of Bellevue?
Triggered by removal of a tree that the city's own tree ordinance protects — commonly defined by a diameter at breast or standard height, a listed-species table, a grove or heritage designation, or a canopy-cover target. This baseline row carries NO verified local threshold; read the city's tree chapter before quoting a number. Some cities do not permit removal above a size at all — they prohibit removal of regulated trees outside enumerated exceptions, so a "permit required at X inches" reading is wrong there.
From City of Bellevue's own code
“Except to abate a nuisance as defined herein, no person shall damage, destroy or mutilate any tree, shrub or plant in a public parking strip or any other public place, or attach or place any rope or wire (other than one used to support a young or broken tree), sign, poster, handbill or other thing to or on any tree growing in a public place, or cause or permit any wire charged with electricity to come in contact with any such tree, or allow any gaseous, liquid or solid substance which is harmful to such trees to come in contact with their roots or l…”Source ↗verified 2026-04-26
Required submittals
- site plan with tree locations + DBH
- arborist report (sometimes)
- replacement / mitigation plan
Inspection sequence
- site verification (arborist or planner)
- final replacement compliance
Contractor specialties needed
general
Who can do this work in City of Bellevue?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, active through April 10, 2027, bonded and insured — working throughout City of Bellevue and King County. Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files the tree removal permit with Bellevue Development Services, carries the project through review and inspections, and performs the construction. Call (206) 410-5100 for a City of Bellevue tree removal quote.
Notes & caveats
Issuing body is city planning / urban forestry. Replacement requirements common (e.g. 1:1 or 2:1 by canopy area). Critical-area parcels (steep slope, salmon stream buffer) have stricter rules. A hazardous or dead tree is usually treated differently, but EXEMPT IS THE WRONG WORD for most cities: the common pattern is that the permit is still required and the FEE is waived, on an arborist's report. Issaquah is the measured case — "No fee is applied when all trees proposed for removal are deemed hazardous" — which is a waiver, not an exemption, and a homeowner told they need no permit would remove a regulated tree without one. Check whether this city waives the fee or the permit.
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your City of Bellevue tree removal — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline/ECA/historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals (3).
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Bellevue Development Services ↗
- 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Tree-removal permit fees are set per permit or per tree in the city's fee schedule; some cities require replacement bonds. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com.) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
We pull tree removal permits in City of Bellevue every month. We prepare the drawings and submittals, file with Bellevue Development Services, handle reviewer comments, and build the project.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Tree removal permits in City of Bellevue — FAQ
When does a tree removal need a permit in City of Bellevue?
Triggered by removal of a tree that the city's own tree ordinance protects — commonly defined by a diameter at breast or standard height, a listed-species table, a grove or heritage designation, or a canopy-cover target. This baseline row carries NO verified local threshold; read the city's tree chapter before quoting a number. Some cities do not permit removal above a size at all — they prohibit removal of regulated trees outside enumerated exceptions, so a "permit required at X inches" reading is wrong there.
How much does a tree removal permit cost in City of Bellevue?
Current fee per the City of Bellevue fee schedule: Tree-removal permit fees are set per permit or per tree in the city's fee schedule; some cities require replacement bonds. Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com.. Plus ancillary plan-review/tech-surcharge fees per city schedule.