Tree removal permits in Kirkland: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a tree removal permit in Kirkland, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Kirkland Planning and Building Department.
Free lookup, no account needed — your lot polygon, zoning, setbacks and overlays, cited to Kirkland's source.
When does tree removal need a permit in Kirkland?
Removing a tree on a lot in Kirkland turns on its trunk diameter, measured 4.5 ft above the ground. A tree of 6 in or more is a regulated tree, and none comes down without a tree removal notification form submitted to the City first (KZC 95.10, 95.25(2)). On developed property the owner may remove, with that form and no permit, 2 regulated trees in 12 months on a lot up to 10,000 sq ft, 3 on a lot of 10,001 to 20,000 sq ft and 4 on a larger lot, as long as at least 2, 3 or 4 regulated trees remain (KZC 95.25(1), Table 95.25.1). A tree removal permit is required to remove a landmark tree (26 in or more), to remove more than the allowance or leave fewer trees than the minimum, and to remove a tree in a wetland, a stream or their buffers, a landslide hazard area, the Holmes Point Overlay Zone or a shoreline setback; past the allowance and in those areas the City issues it only for a hazard or nuisance tree (KZC 95.25(3)). No tree comes down in a critical area or its buffer except under a critical area permit or as a hazard or nuisance tree (KZC 95.27). A tree posing an imminent threat to life or property may be removed in an emergency, with the City notified within seven days (KZC 95.15(1)), and a tree in the street right-of-way is a public tree, which needs its own permit (KZC 95.20).
From Kirkland's own code
“2. Tree Removal Notification Form. No person, directly or indirectly, shall remove any regulated tree from private property without first submitting a tree removal notification form.”Source ↗verified 2026-10-27
What Kirkland says in its own permit handout
From Trees, published by Kirkland. This is the jurisdiction's own guidance on its permit process, not the ordinance text — where the two differ, the code governs.
“Notice: The City will not accept new development permits for sites that have recently removed healthy trees for a period of 12 months for Regulated Trees or 24 months for Landmark Trees. If you are planning to develop your property in the next 12 to 24 months, the trees must qualify as hazard or nuisance trees to be exempt from this development hold per KZC 95.25(5).”Handout ↗read 2026-09-05
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 contractor
Who can do this work in Kirkland?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, active through April 10, 2027, bonded and insured — working throughout Kirkland and King County. Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files the tree removal permit with Kirkland Planning and Building Department, carries the project through review and inspections, and arranges the tree work. Call (206) 410-5100 for a Kirkland 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. Cities treat a dead, dying or hazardous tree differently, so check this city's rule before removing one. Some need no permit for it (Lynnwood: no permit for a dead, diseased or dangerous tree, LMC 17.15.150). Some allow emergency removal if the city is told afterward (Kirkland: within seven days, KZC 95.15). Some still require the permit and waive the fee (Issaquah: no fee when every tree proposed for removal is deemed hazardous).
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your tree removal in Kirkland — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline, critical-area or historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals: the 3 documents under Required submittals above.
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Kirkland Planning and Building Department ↗
- 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (Kirkland's fee schedule sets them) and pick up the permit. Keep it with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files with Kirkland Planning and Building Department, handles reviewer comments, and arranges the tree work.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Tree removal permits in Kirkland — FAQ
When does tree removal need a permit in Kirkland?
Removing a tree on a lot in Kirkland turns on its trunk diameter, measured 4.5 ft above the ground. A tree of 6 in or more is a regulated tree, and none comes down without a tree removal notification form submitted to the City first (KZC 95.10, 95.25(2)). On developed property the owner may remove, with that form and no permit, 2 regulated trees in 12 months on a lot up to 10,000 sq ft, 3 on a lot of 10,001 to 20,000 sq ft and 4 on a larger lot, as long as at least 2, 3 or 4 regulated trees remain (KZC 95.25(1), Table 95.25.1). A tree removal permit is required to remove a landmark tree (26 in or more), to remove more than the allowance or leave fewer trees than the minimum, and to remove a tree in a wetland, a stream or their buffers, a landslide hazard area, the Holmes Point Overlay Zone or a shoreline setback; past the allowance and in those areas the City issues it only for a hazard or nuisance tree (KZC 95.25(3)). No tree comes down in a critical area or its buffer except under a critical area permit or as a hazard or nuisance tree (KZC 95.27). A tree posing an imminent threat to life or property may be removed in an emergency, with the City notified within seven days (KZC 95.15(1)), and a tree in the street right-of-way is a public tree, which needs its own permit (KZC 95.20).
How much does a tree removal permit cost in Kirkland?
Kirkland's landmark tree removal permit is $308, and a permit to remove several private or right-of-way trees $616; a forest management plan is $462. A 3.5% surcharge is added (Land Use Permit Fee Schedule 2026). Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com.