Regulations
Trees are Regulated
Within the City of Seattle, removing, planting, or pruning a tree is regulated depending on a number of factors. Where your tree is located – either on private property or in the right-of-way along a street determines which regulations you should follow. Most right-of-way street trees between the curb and sidewalk in residential neighborhoods are managed and cared for by the adjacent property owner.
Please visit the Seattle Services Portal Tree webpage to apply for tree work permits on private property, regulated by Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), and in the public right-of-way, regulated by Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), register as a tree service provider, get public notices for tree work, and more.
If you are hiring someone to care for a tree in Seattle, they must be on the Tree Service Provider registry. The Tree Service Provider Directory is a list of providers who have met the registration requirements for the SDCI registry for tree work on private property, for the SDOT registry for tree work in the public right-of-way, or both. Please also visit the SDCI Trees & Codes webpage for more information about trees on private property.
The Tree Public Notice Map is an interactive map that displays Tree Public Notices required for reportable work or tree removal on private property.
The Tree Tracking Data Map is an interactive map that displays tree information from SDCI records that required SDCI staff approval of tree removal, tree protection, or tree planting.
Private Property Trees
Street Trees
SDOT PERMIT REQUIRED
- Under Seattle ordinance #124166, you must obtain a permit from SDOT before removing any tree on a City right-of-way
- To apply for a removal permit, click here or call 206-684-TREE (8733)
Private Property Trees
AN SDCI PERMIT MAY BE REQUIRED
Street trees
SDOT PERMIT REQUIRED
- Seattle City Ordinance #124166 requires that all persons who prune privately maintained trees within the public right-of-way area obtain a street use permit
- To apply for a pruning permit, click here or call 206-684-TREE (8733)
- SDOT tree pruning guide
Private trees
NO PERMIT REQUIRED
Street trees
SDOT PERMIT REQUIRED
- You must obtain a street use permit from SDOT before planting a tree along the street
- Fruit trees, big leaf maples, cottonwoods, and Lombardy poplar trees are explicitly prohibited as street trees
- To apply for a street tree planting permit, click here or call 206-684-TREE (8733)
- Free trees
Questions?
On private property: Contact the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections at (206) 684-8850. The best way to contact our staff is via email at sdci-trees@seattle.gov or through SDCI’s Submit a Request form. To help route your request, indicate that you need help with “Permits, codes, zones, plans,” then select “Land Use” as the type of help you need, and then select “Trees” in the description field. If necessary, we can set up a virtual meeting to discuss potential or actual projects.
On right-of-way property (along the street): Contact the Seattle Department of Transportation at (206) 684-TREE (8733)
On parks property: Contact Seattle Parks and Recreation at (206) 684-4113
Click here for questions about illegal cutting and removal