Tacoma, Washington
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Tacoma
Unlike its Eastside neighbors, Tacoma generally has no ordinance regulating pruning or removal of trees on private property. The exceptions are properties in or near critical areas, such as steep slopes, wetlands and stream corridors, and any tree in the public right-of-way.
- County
- Pierce
- Tree rules
- Tacoma Municipal Code 13.11 (critical areas) and 9.20 (urban forestry, right-of-way trees)
- Key local rule
- Private trees generally unregulated except in critical areas; right-of-way trees need a permit
- Electric utility
- Tacoma Power
- Main hazards
- Steep bluffs above Commencement Bay, windstorms, landslides, tall conifers
Does Tacoma require a permit to remove a yard tree?
Generally not. The city states that it has no tree cutting ordinance regulating private trees, except on property in or near critical areas defined in TMC 13.11: wetlands, stream corridors and geologically hazardous areas such as steep slopes. Trees in the public right-of-way always need a Tree Work in the Right-of-Way permit.
- Ordinary yard
- No city permit.
- Slopes, wetlands, streams
- Critical area rules apply.
- Planting strip
- Right-of-way permit, applied for by the abutting owner.
Critical areas and right-of-way trees
Geologically hazardous areas include the steep bluffs along Commencement Bay, Ruston Way and the Narrows, and ravines throughout the city. Removing trees there can loosen slopes, so the critical areas code governs vegetation work.
Trees in the right-of-way are covered by the urban forestry chapter of the municipal code. Only the abutting property owner or an authorized agent can apply for a permit, and removal permits are posted for public notice.
Bluffs and landslides
Tacoma is built on glacial deposits cut by deep gulches and steep bluffs. In wet winters, those slopes slide, sometimes taking trees, fences and parts of yards with them. Trees with deep roots help hold them, which is why the city treats slopes differently from flat lots.
On a bluff lot, a tree that leans toward the water may be the only thing holding the top of the slope. Removal, if allowed, often leaves the stump and roots in place, and replanting with native shrubs follows.
For any tree on a slope, a geotechnical engineer may need to weigh in along with an arborist.
Signs worth attention in Tacoma
Tension cracks in soil above a slope
Ground beginning to move.
Trees tilting downslope
Creep or a slide underway.
Conks on Douglas fir
Root rot that weakens anchorage.
Madrones with dead branches
A native tree prone to fungal dieback.
Tacoma settings
- North End and Proctor
- Older homes with mature maples, oaks and firs on flat lots.
- Ruston Way and Old Town bluffs
- Steep slopes and critical area rules.
- Point Defiance edges
- Old-growth firs near homes.
- South and East Tacoma
- Street trees and flat lots with few restrictions, and many large volunteer trees along fences.
- Gulch neighborhoods
- Homes backing onto wooded ravines such as Puget Gulch and Swan Creek, where critical area rules apply to the slope.
Before removing a Tacoma tree
Check critical area maps
Slopes, streams and wetlands.
Check whether it is in the right-of-way
Planting strip trees need a permit.
Call the permit center
When unsure.
Plan the work
Rigging on slopes and around lines, with Tacoma Power contacted for any tree near service wires.
Keep records
Photos and invoices help if a neighbor later raises a slope or drainage complaint.
Tacoma tree questions
Can my neighbor cut down a tree that shades my yard?
On a flat lot outside critical areas, Tacoma generally does not regulate private tree removal.
Who owns the tree between the sidewalk and street?
It is in the right-of-way. The abutting owner applies for any work permit.
Do I need a permit to prune a right-of-way tree?
Tree work in the right-of-way requires a permit.
Does Tacoma have a tree planting program?
Yes. The city's urban forestry program offers tree planting for residents and neighborhoods.
Is a geotechnical report needed for a bluff tree?
On steep slopes, the city may require one before vegetation removal. Ask the permit center before planning work.
Reach a tree service in Tacoma
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