Tree removal permits in Federal Way: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a tree removal permit in Federal Way, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Federal Way Department of Community Development.
Free lookup, no account needed — your lot polygon, zoning, setbacks and overlays, cited to Federal Way's source.
When does tree removal need a permit in Federal Way?
Federal Way regulates the removal of any tree, not only large ones: FWRC 19.120.020(2) says "No person shall remove any trees on a site without first obtaining approval of a tree retention plan by the director, except for those activities that are exempt as described in FWRC 19.120.030." The exemption most homeowners use is FWRC 19.120.030(9), for a lot in the SE or RS zone that contains a dwelling, and it holds only while three conditions are met: the trees are outside any environmentally critical area under Chapter 19.145 FWRC; no tree a development permit required to be retained is removed; and the removal does not change where stormwater or groundwater enters or leaves the property, or its quality or velocity. Under those conditions, trees up to 6 inches in diameter at breast height (4.5 ft), hazard trees and nuisance vegetation may be removed "without city review and approval"; trees of 6 inches dbh or greater may be removed subject to the minimum tree density of Table 19.120.130-1 (25 tree units per acre in RS zones), and a removal that drops the lot below it requires replacement planting up to that density or the tree units removed, whichever is less. Outside the exemption — in an environmentally critical area, trees a development permit required to be retained, a drainage change, or a lot outside the SE and RS zones — removal needs the director's approval, reviewed with the building or land-development permit or, with none, through Process III. Topping counts as removal.
From Federal Way's own code
“No person shall remove any trees on a site without first obtaining approval of a tree retention plan by the director, except for those activities that are exempt as described in FWRC 19.120.030.”Source ↗verified 2026-09-25
Required submittals
- Written request for City approval — many non-exempt removals need only written approval, not a permit application (bulletin #070)
- Tree and Vegetation Retention Plan by a qualified expert, for removal in an environmentally critical area, of required-retention trees, or that changes drainage (bulletin #070)
- Tree-unit calculation per FWRC Tables 19.120.130-1 and 19.120.130-2 when removing trees of 6 in dbh or more could drop the lot below its minimum tree density
Inspection sequence
- Site verification (arborist or planner)
- Final replacement compliance
Contractor specialties needed
General contractor
Who can do this work in Federal Way?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, active through April 10, 2027, bonded and insured — working throughout Federal Way and King County. Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files the tree removal permit with Federal Way Department of Community Development, carries the project through review and inspections, and performs the construction. Call (206) 410-5100 for a Federal Way tree removal quote.
Notes & caveats
Approved by the City of Federal Way's community development department — the "director" in FWRC 19.120. Tree removal is part of Current Planning's land-use review; questions go to the Planner on Duty (PlngInquiry@federalwaywa.gov, 253-835-2655). Federal Way's bulletin #070 for developed single-family parcels (Nov. 10, 2016): "Many non-exempt activities do not require a permit application, only written approval by the city." It says a permit application with a Tree and Vegetation Retention Plan by a qualified expert may be required for removal in an environmentally sensitive area, of trees a development permit required to be retained, or that changes stormwater or groundwater, and that removal without approval carries civil penalties of up to $1,000 per tree or up to its marketable value, plus restoration (FWRC 19.120.270). Outside the single-family exemption, hazard, dead, dangerous or diseased trees may be removed "when authorized by the director" (FWRC 19.120.030(12)). No exemption allows removal within sensitive areas or their buffers where Title 19's critical-area rules prohibit it. Tree removal may also need a Class IV General forest practices approval from the state Department of Natural Resources (FWRC 19.120.020(2)).
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your Federal Way 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: Federal Way Department of Community Development ↗
- 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Federal Way's fee schedule sets them) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files with Federal Way Department of Community Development, handles reviewer comments, and builds the project.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Tree removal permits in Federal Way — FAQ
When does tree removal need a permit in Federal Way?
Federal Way regulates the removal of any tree, not only large ones: FWRC 19.120.020(2) says "No person shall remove any trees on a site without first obtaining approval of a tree retention plan by the director, except for those activities that are exempt as described in FWRC 19.120.030." The exemption most homeowners use is FWRC 19.120.030(9), for a lot in the SE or RS zone that contains a dwelling, and it holds only while three conditions are met: the trees are outside any environmentally critical area under Chapter 19.145 FWRC; no tree a development permit required to be retained is removed; and the removal does not change where stormwater or groundwater enters or leaves the property, or its quality or velocity. Under those conditions, trees up to 6 inches in diameter at breast height (4.5 ft), hazard trees and nuisance vegetation may be removed "without city review and approval"; trees of 6 inches dbh or greater may be removed subject to the minimum tree density of Table 19.120.130-1 (25 tree units per acre in RS zones), and a removal that drops the lot below it requires replacement planting up to that density or the tree units removed, whichever is less. Outside the exemption — in an environmentally critical area, trees a development permit required to be retained, a drainage change, or a lot outside the SE and RS zones — removal needs the director's approval, reviewed with the building or land-development permit or, with none, through Process III. Topping counts as removal.
How much does a tree removal permit cost in Federal Way?
Non-exempt removal is reviewed with the building or land-development permit it belongs to, or as a Process III land-use application, at the fees in Federal Way's fee schedule. Where a tree protection assurance is required, it is due before the permit authorizing removal issues (FWRC 19.120.240).