Tree removal permit requirements across 17 Seattle-area cities

In Federal Way removing a tree needs the director's approval of a tree retention plan, except on a lot with a house on it in the SE or RS zone, outside critical areas and their buffers, flood hazard areas and native growth protection areas, where the removal does not change where stormwater or groundwater enters or leaves the lot. There, trees under 6 in across, hazard trees and nuisance vegetation come down with no city review, and larger trees as long as the lot keeps the minimum tree density (25 tree units an acre in the RS zones) or replacement trees make it up. Topping counts as removal. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

In Issaquah a significant tree is 6 in DBH or more, an alder or cottonwood 8 in; a species on the King County noxious weed list is not one. Removing a significant tree needs City approval: a tree permit, or approval as part of a landscape, grading, site work or building permit. A landmark tree, over 30 in, needs a tree permit, considered only for a nuisance or hazardous tree. No tree may come down on a vacant lot before development is approved, or in a critical area or a native growth protection easement, except as the tree code allows. A smaller tree that nothing else protects needs no approval; there is no yearly allowance. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

Kent sets no tree permit for a lot with a building on it. On undeveloped land every tree 6 in across or more at 4.5 ft is kept, unless a tree retention plan approved with the permit for a new house or duplex allows its removal, and a tree removed illegally there is replaced with two to six new trees (KCC 15.08.240 B, E, I). In a critical area or its buffer, removing any tree, a hazard tree included, needs the City's critical area review. A tree between the property line and the curb is a street tree.

In Kirkland a tree of 6 in or more at 4.5 ft is a regulated tree. On a lot with a house, the owner may remove 2 of them in 12 months on a lot up to 10,000 sq ft, 3 up to 20,000 and 4 on a larger lot, keeping at least as many on the lot, with a tree removal notification form submitted first and no permit. Beyond that, a landmark tree of 26 in or more, any tree in a critical area or its buffer, and a regulated tree within the shoreline setback need a tree removal permit, which past the allowance and in those areas the City issues only for a hazard or nuisance tree. A tree under 6 in elsewhere needs neither. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

On Mercer Island removing a tree needs a permit, a tree removal permit or approval within another construction permit, unless it is a small tree under 10 in across at 4.5 ft that is not an exceptional tree, or a species on the state or King County noxious, invasive or weeds of concern lists. An exceptional tree, a species the Exceptional Tree Table lists at its size: 6 in for a Pacific dogwood, madrona, Garry oak, Sitka spruce, Pacific yew, lodgepole pine, black hawthorn, Rocky Mountain maple or western serviceberry; 8 in for a cascara, vine maple or native willow; 9 in for a Washington hawthorn, the one nonnative species under 10 in, or any tree over 36 in or in a grove, needs one at any size. In a critical area or its buffer every tree needs one. Pruning on private property needs none; there is no yearly allowance. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

In Redmond a significant tree, a tree of 6 in or more at 4.5 ft, needs a tree removal permit before it comes down, on any lot, and so does a stand of three or more trees whose drip lines touch. A tree of 4 to 6 in is significant if the City finds it so for its age, height, value or function; one under 4 in needs no tree permit. A landmark tree, over 30 in, comes down only by an exception the City grants. On a house lot the City permits up to 2 significant trees a year on a lot to 10,000 sq ft, 4 to 20,000, 6 to 30,000 and 8 on a larger lot; dead and hazardous trees do not count toward that. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

In Renton a significant tree is 6 in or more at 4.5 ft, an alder or cottonwood 8 in. On a lot with a building, the owner may remove 2 significant trees a year and no more than 5 in five years with no permit, as long as the tree is not a landmark tree and not one of the last two significant trees on the lot. Beyond that, a landmark tree (24 in, or 30 in for a bigleaf maple, black cottonwood or red alder) and any tree work on an undeveloped lot need a routine vegetation management permit. No tree may come down in a critical area, a shoreline buffer or a native growth protection area except as the critical area or shoreline rules allow. A smaller tree elsewhere needs no permit. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

In Sammamish removing a conifer of 8 in or more, or a broadleaf tree of 12 in or more, measured 4.5 ft above the ground, needs a permit: a healthy, noninvasive one is a significant tree and needs a tree removal permit, and a dead, diseased or invasive one of that size needs a clearing and grading permit, since the clearing code exempts only smaller trees. Any tree on a lot a mapped critical area or its buffer touches, or on an undeveloped lot, needs the clearing and grading permit. A smaller tree elsewhere needs none. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

Trees under 6 in are not regulated, nor are invasive or nuisance species, which must be replaced. On a lot with a house, up to two trees of 6 to under 12 in may be removed in any three years. Larger trees, grove trees and listed species, and any tree of 6 in or more on a lot with no building, may not be removed unless SDCI approves them as hazardous, or in an emergency.

In Shoreline removing a tree is clearing, and needs the City's clearing and grading permit unless the code exempts it (SMC 20.50.300 A, C). Outside critical areas and their buffers, a lot up to 7,200 sq ft may remove three significant trees (healthy trees 6 in or more across at 4.5 ft) in 36 months, and one more for each further full 7,200 sq ft of lot, with no permit and no replacement; more than six on any lot, or any tree over 24 in, needs the permit (20.50.310 B.1, B.2; 20.50.320 D). A tree under 6 in, or a dead or unhealthy one of 24 in or less, is not a significant tree. Trees on a lot zoned NB, CB, MB, TC-1 to TC-3 or MUR-70' are exempt (310 A.5). In a critical area or its buffer none of these exemptions apply: any tree removal needs the permit, and a hazard tree that is not an imminent danger needs the Director's approval of an exemption request with a qualified arborist's evaluation (20.50.310 B; 20.80.075 G). A tree that is an active and imminent hazard may come down first, documented to the City after (310 A.1). A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

Woodinville needs a tree permit, a Type I decision, to remove a tree 6 in across or more at 4.5 ft (WMC 21.50.020, 21.50.030). A tree under 2 in needs none, and trees under 6 in need none while their combined trunk widths stay under 40 in within 12 months. A heritage or specimen tree comes down only under the City's Heritage Tree Program.

On a lot with one to four homes, Puyallup sets no tree permit outside a heritage tree, a native growth protection easement or greenbelt, and a critical area; on other land a significant tree, a healthy tree over 15 in across at 4.5 ft other than a black cottonwood or red alder, is protected as well (the City's tip sheet, 02/2026). A heritage tree on the City's registry may not be removed or altered without the City's approval: a heritage tree alteration permit, or taking it off the registry at the owner's request (PMC 20.58.025(3), (4)). Clearing in a native growth protection easement or greenbelt needs a permit (21.14.300(4)). In a wetland, stream or wildlife habitat area, a landslide or erosion hazard area, or their buffers, every tree is protected, whatever its size or species, dead and snag trees included: removing one needs the City's tree removal permit with a certified arborist's report, reviewed under the critical areas code; a hazard tree is replaced two for one, and vegetation that holds the soil of a landslide or erosion hazard area stays unless the City approves its removal (20.11.050(1); 21.06.320(4), 410(1)(e), 410(2), 1230(3)). A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

In Tacoma removing a tree is clearing, which needs a site development permit unless TMC 2.19.030 F exempts it. On a lot with a building on it, clearing under 7,000 sq ft for property maintenance, landscaping or gardening needs none, outside critical areas, their buffers and flood hazard areas. An Oregon white oak 6 in across or more is itself a critical area: removing one, or any tree in or next to a critical area or its buffer, needs the City's critical areas review as well. Pruning is not clearing. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.

In Lynnwood removing any tree, a woody plant with a trunk 3 in or more across at 4.5 ft or a multi-stemmed trunk with a formed crown, needs the City's tree removal permit, on private land or public (LMC 17.15.040 Q, 17.15.100). On a developed single-family lot under 16,000 sq ft it is a Class I permit, approved as soon as the application is complete for up to two significant trees (6 in or more) or 40 percent of them, whichever is greater, in a calendar year; more than that, or a tree replanted or saved under an earlier permit, is inspected first, and each significant tree over the allowance is replaced (17.15.110). Every other site takes a Class II permit (17.15.120). A dead or diseased tree needs no permit unless it was killed deliberately or by careless construction, nor does a tree that is or threatens to become a danger to life or is damaging property, as the City determines on review (17.15.150 D, E). A designated heritage tree may not be removed or even pruned without Public Works' approval (17.15.070 D). Within 300 ft of a critical area or its buffer the work also needs the City's critical areas permit. A tree in the street right-of-way is a street tree.