Permits Required for Tree Removal or Replanting in Cities Around Oregon and Washington
Every city has varying requirements for how its trees are planted, removed, and pruned. And removal of trees above a certain size needs to be handled by a certified arborist.
Depending on size, age, and location, residents may or may not need a permit. We’ve put together a guide for cities around SW Washington and NW Oregon to help you learn more about regulations in your area. The information below generally applies to residential areas. Commercial permitting and fees vary.
Washington
Battleground
Battleground falls under Clark County’s municipal codes, so tree removal, planing, and pruning are regulated accordingly. See Vancouver’s tree permit page or the city’s “Do I Need a Tree Permit?” document for more information.
Camas
Tree removal is allowed without a permit on private property unless it is considered a critical area by the city. Contact the city of Camas, Washington for more information.
Vancouver
Removing or performing any major pruning on a tree in Vancouver, WA requires a permit. But first, determine if the tree is on public or private property (street or private). Check the City of Vancouver‘s site for more information and downloadable permit forms.
Woodland
Contact the Cowlitz County office for more information.
Washougal
Trees on private property may be removed without a permit at the discretion of the owner. However, it the tree is located in a “critical area”, you may need a Critical Areas Permit in order to remove it. For more information, visit this useful page on the City of Washougal’s official site.
Oregon
Beaverton
All street tree removal requires a fee and permit. This applies to single-family homes, apartments, and commercial buildings.
Boring
No tree removal permits required within city limits. Contact the Clackamas County zoning division for more information.
Damascus
No permit is required for private property removals of up to 2 trees per year. The same is required for commercial removals of up to 2 trees per year, per acre. Additional trees required a more detailed permit. See Clackamas County zoning division website for more information.
Fairview
Permits are required to remove street trees, trees located in the right of way, or in a protected natural area. Fairview is in Multnomah County, so local permitting rules may apply as well.
Gresham
No fee permit is required in Gresham. Properties of up to 35,000 sq ft can remove no more than 3 trees in a twelve-month period. Properties of more than 35,000 sq. ft. can remove up to 6 trees per year. A tree is considered to be 8” DBH (Diameter Breast Height or 4.5ft from the ground.). See the City of Gresham municipal codes regarding trees for more details.
Happy Valley
If a resident is planning to remove a tree whose trunk diameter is more than 6 inches, a permit is required. The permit type is determined based on if the project is on commercial or residential property. See Happy Valley’s tree cutting ordinance page for additional information.
Hillsboro
Permits for tree removal are required for general right of way purposes. Otherwise, no tree removal permits are required on private property. See Permit Applications for the City of Hillsboro for more information.
Lake Oswego
Dead and hazardous trees can be removed with a type 1 permit and fee. Type 2 removal requires an application process, a public notice, and in some cases a notice to the neighborhood association. Check The city of Lake Oswego’s tree code page for important details.
Milwaukie
Milwaukie does not have its own tree code. But residents are not allowed to trim or remove trees in the public right of way. Check with the area’s planning department before pursuing any tree removal projects.
Oregon City
No-cost permits are required for tree removal for street trees or on private, single-family lots in Oregon City.
Tigard
There are six situations in which tree removal requires a permit in Tigard – if they are street trees, median trees, sensitive lands trees, urban forestry fund trees, heritage trees, or development-required trees). Residents may remove a tree without a permit with the exception of when one of these situations exists. See Tigard’s Urban Forestry website for more details and permit applications.
Troutdale
Tree permits are required “whenever pruning or removal of a street tree is necessary. A street tree is any tree located within the public right-of-way. This permit helps ensure proper pruning procedures are followed and that unnecessary tree removals do not take place within the public right-of-way or on underdeveloped property. Street Tree Permits are not required for pruning or removal of trees on developed private property. For more information Contact Tim Seery at: 503-674-7271.” (Cited from the City of Troutdale official website)
Tualatin
The city of Tualatin dictates that “4 trees per year may be removed without a tree removal permit unless the tree is a Heritage Tree, in a wetland or Clean Water Services (CWS) wetland buffer (“vegetated corridor”), or among specific trees to be preserved.”
A homeowner wishing to remove more than four (4) trees must submit a single-family tree removal permit. Contact the Tualatin Planning Division for more information.
Portland
Permits are required for pruning or removing certain types of trees within the Portland city limits. No permit is required for trees on private property that are 11” DBH and under (diameter at breast height. Wrap tape measure around the tree to get the measurement and divide by 3.14). There is a fee to obtain permits to remove trees larger than 12”DBH, and only 4 trees per year may be removed. Pruning and removal or replacement of street trees require a permit.
See The City of Portland‘s website for specifics.
West Linn
A city-issued tree removal permit is required for any tree within the city limits. See West Linn’s Parks and Recreation website for downloadable permit applications and information about types of trees that require permits to remove.
Wilsonville
A tree removal permit is required for all woody perennials measuring 6″ or greater DBH. Find more information here.