Tree Removal Permits in Tacoma, WA

Verified against Tacoma city sources · last checked 2026-08-07

Do you need a permit?

It depends on the tree

One question decides it: is your parcel in a mapped Critical Area? If it is not, and you are not building anything, Tacoma requires no permit and charges no fee to remove a tree on your own developed lot, at any diameter. The city says so in its own words: "Permits are not required for planting or pruning trees on private property. Permits are required for removing trees on private property if the trees are located in a regulated Critical Area." Tacoma's tree-retention rules and its Canopy Loss Fee are triggered by development activity, not by owning a big tree. Call the Permit Counter at (253) 591-5030 and ask a Permit Specialist to check your parcel before you cut.

Size threshold

None applies when no construction is proposed. In a Critical Area there is no size threshold either — any removal is regulated. The diameter tiers exist only for development in Urban Residential zones, per TMC 13.06.090B.3.e.(3): trees under 6 inches DBH are not regulated; 6 to under 18 inches and 18 inches or larger may be removed subject to the Canopy Loss Fee; and TMC 13.06.090B.3.e.(3)(f) adds that "within Urban Residential (UR) Districts, existing trees that are 24" DBH or larger shall not be removed unless preserving the tree(s) would, despite exploring reasonable site layout alternatives, significantly limit the reasonable development of the site." DBH is measured at four feet six inches above the ground (TMC 9.20.140.D); trees under four inches are measured as caliper inches at six inches above soil level.

What's protected in Tacoma

Any tree in or adjacent to a Critical Area or its buffer — wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife habitat, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas including steep slopes, and aquifer recharge areas (TMC 13.11). No size threshold and no construction trigger.
Native shoreline vegetation inside Shoreline jurisdiction, which needs administrative review under the Shoreline Master Program (TMC 19.06.060.C.3)
Trees counted toward required Tree Canopy Credits when the property was permitted under the current code (TMC 13.06.090B.1.d)
Street trees, meaning any tree whose trunk is wholly or partially in the public right-of-way (TMC 9.20.140.S)
Significant tree groves in critical areas: "a group of 8 or more trees 12-inches diameter or greater that form a continuous canopy" (TMC 13.11)

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee: Nothing for an ordinary private removal outside a Critical Area. The Canopy Loss Fee applies to development in Urban Residential zones and to right-of-way Conflict Trees, and the city publishes two different figures we could not reconcile: the 2025 Urban Forest Manual states $130 per inch DBH, while Tacoma Permits tip sheet L-093 (June 2024) states $125 per caliper inch with a worked example. TMC 13.06.090B.3.e.(3)(e) gives only the formula, "Canopy Loss Fee = Canopy loss, in inches X $ per inch," and defers the rate to the manual. We are reporting both rather than picking one.
Ordinance: Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.20 — Urban Forestry, repealed and replaced in full by Ordinance No. 28926, adopted December 12, 2023, ratified and reconfirmed by Ordinance No. 28947, January 16, 2024 (new permitting effective June 1, 2024). TMC 13.06.090B covers landscaping and tree retention for development. TMC Chapter 13.11 — Critical Areas Preservation, most recently amended by Ordinance No. 29114, July 14, 2026. TMC Chapter 2.19 — Site Development Code. TMC Title 19 — Shoreline Master Program. The Urban Forest Manual, 2025 edition, is adopted under TMC 9.20.100.

Worth knowing

The common misreading is that Ordinance 28926 created a private-property tree permit. It did not. It rewrote TMC 9.20, which governs street trees and trees on public property. Every applicability clause in the chapter is street-tree scoped, and a "street tree" is defined as one "whose trunk is wholly or partially located within the public right-of-way." A tree standing entirely on your lot can never be one.
The Critical Areas chapter is the real trap, because it does not wait for a building permit: "The provisions of this chapter apply to all lands and waters, all land uses and development activities, and all structures and facilities in the City, whether or not a permit or authorization is required... This chapter specifically applies to any activity which would destroy vegetation" (TMC 13.11.130.A). TMC 13.11.140.F reaches "destroying or altering vegetation through clearing, harvesting, shading, pruning, impacting the critical root zone of trees."
Outside a Critical Area the site development permit lets ordinary yard work through: TMC 2.19.030F exempts "clearing less than 7,000 square feet in area" for "general property and utility maintenance, landscaping, or gardening in pre-existing developed land," and separately exempts "removal of hazardous trees on private property provided no more than 50 cubic yards of grading is required and no more than 7,000 square feet of area is disturbed, whichever is less."
Heritage Tree designation in Tacoma is honorific on private land, which surprises people. TMC 9.20.460.C: "A heritage tree designation does not prohibit a property owner from developing the property or removing a designated heritage tree or trees." Designation is voluntary and needs the owner's consent. On public property the opposite is true and the tree must be retained.
A "Conflict Tree" is inherently a right-of-way concept — TMC 9.20.220E.2 defines it as a tree that conflicts with something "by its presence in the public right-of-way." It cannot apply to a tree on private property.
A view is never a valid reason to remove a tree here. Tip sheet L-093 lists "obstruction of view" first among things that "shall not be considered criteria for removal," and the city states it "does not prune or remove trees to preserve views for public or private benefit."
Topping counts as removal for penalty purposes: under TMC 9.20.520C a topped or severely pruned tree "will be considered a removed tree."
The strip out front is your job. The city states that maintenance of trees and vegetation in the public right-of-way is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, and that it "is not currently resourced to maintain trees within the right-of-way." Its Hazardous Tree Assistance Program covers right-of-way trees only; private property trees are ineligible.
Exempt from the Canopy Loss Fee even in the development case: hazard trees with an ISA-certified Tree Risk Assessment, significantly damaged trees, fruit trees, and trees damaging existing infrastructure (TMC 13.06.090B.3.e.(3)(c)).
TMC Chapter 13.06A is repealed. Any older source pointing there for tree conservation is out of date.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— Whether your parcel is in a Critical Area. That is the whole question, and only the city can answer it — call (253) 591-5030.
— Whether a Critical Area removal is processed as a formal permit or as over-the-counter staff review, and what it costs. TMC 13.11.200 and 13.11.210 do not squarely list routine removal of a single healthy tree in a buffer with no construction.
— The current Canopy Loss Fee rate. The Urban Forest Manual says $130 per inch DBH and tip sheet L-093 says $125 per caliper inch. We did not obtain the adopted Planning and Development Services fee schedule that controls.
— How a non-native tree inside Shoreline jurisdiction is treated. The Shoreline Master Program provision speaks to "native shoreline vegetation."
— The penalty for an unpermitted Critical Area removal on private property. TMC 9.20.520 penalties attach to street and public trees; critical-area enforcement runs through TMC 13.11 and the Uniform Enforcement Code, which we did not read.

Sources

Who to contact in Tacoma

Planning and Development Services Permit Counter, City of Tacoma

Start here: Planning and Development Services at (253) 591-5030 — this is the line that checks whether your parcel is in a Critical Area, and the city directs private-property tree questions to it. Follow the prompts to "Land Use and Zoning." Forestry line for general tree questions: Urban Forestry, Environmental Services, (253) 502-2138. In Tacoma, 311 works by dialing 3-1-1 or through Tacoma FIRST 311 online; the general switchboard is (253) 591-5000. Emergency street-tree inspection in the right-of-way only: (253) 591-5495. Trees touching power lines: Tacoma Public Utilities Tree Line, (253) 502-8729. trees@tacoma.gov Official page

747 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402

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Size threshold

What's protected in Tacoma

Any tree in or adjacent to a Critical Area or its buffer — wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife habitat, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas including steep slopes, and aquifer recharge areas (TMC 13.11). No size threshold and no construction trigger.

Native shoreline vegetation inside Shoreline jurisdiction, which needs administrative review under the Shoreline Master Program (TMC 19.06.060.C.3)

Trees counted toward required Tree Canopy Credits when the property was permitted under the current code (TMC 13.06.090B.1.d)

Street trees, meaning any tree whose trunk is wholly or partially in the public right-of-way (TMC 9.20.140.S)

Significant tree groves in critical areas: "a group of 8 or more trees 12-inches diameter or greater that form a continuous canopy" (TMC 13.11)

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee

Nothing for an ordinary private removal outside a Critical Area. The Canopy Loss Fee applies to development in Urban Residential zones and to right-of-way Conflict Trees, and the city publishes two different figures we could not reconcile: the 2025 Urban Forest Manual states $130 per inch DBH, while Tacoma Permits tip sheet L-093 (June 2024) states $125 per caliper inch with a worked example. TMC 13.06.090B.3.e.(3)(e) gives only the formula, "Canopy Loss Fee = Canopy loss, in inches X $ per inch," and defers the rate to the manual. We are reporting both rather than picking one.

Ordinance

Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.20 — Urban Forestry, repealed and replaced in full by Ordinance No. 28926, adopted December 12, 2023, ratified and reconfirmed by Ordinance No. 28947, January 16, 2024 (new permitting effective June 1, 2024). TMC 13.06.090B covers landscaping and tree retention for development. TMC Chapter 13.11 — Critical Areas Preservation, most recently amended by Ordinance No. 29114, July 14, 2026. TMC Chapter 2.19 — Site Development Code. TMC Title 19 — Shoreline Master Program. The Urban Forest Manual, 2025 edition, is adopted under TMC 9.20.100.

Worth knowing

The common misreading is that Ordinance 28926 created a private-property tree permit. It did not. It rewrote TMC 9.20, which governs street trees and trees on public property. Every applicability clause in the chapter is street-tree scoped, and a "street tree" is defined as one "whose trunk is wholly or partially located within the public right-of-way." A tree standing entirely on your lot can never be one.
The Critical Areas chapter is the real trap, because it does not wait for a building permit: "The provisions of this chapter apply to all lands and waters, all land uses and development activities, and all structures and facilities in the City, whether or not a permit or authorization is required... This chapter specifically applies to any activity which would destroy vegetation" (TMC 13.11.130.A). TMC 13.11.140.F reaches "destroying or altering vegetation through clearing, harvesting, shading, pruning, impacting the critical root zone of trees."
Outside a Critical Area the site development permit lets ordinary yard work through: TMC 2.19.030F exempts "clearing less than 7,000 square feet in area" for "general property and utility maintenance, landscaping, or gardening in pre-existing developed land," and separately exempts "removal of hazardous trees on private property provided no more than 50 cubic yards of grading is required and no more than 7,000 square feet of area is disturbed, whichever is less."
Heritage Tree designation in Tacoma is honorific on private land, which surprises people. TMC 9.20.460.C: "A heritage tree designation does not prohibit a property owner from developing the property or removing a designated heritage tree or trees." Designation is voluntary and needs the owner's consent. On public property the opposite is true and the tree must be retained.
A "Conflict Tree" is inherently a right-of-way concept — TMC 9.20.220E.2 defines it as a tree that conflicts with something "by its presence in the public right-of-way." It cannot apply to a tree on private property.
A view is never a valid reason to remove a tree here. Tip sheet L-093 lists "obstruction of view" first among things that "shall not be considered criteria for removal," and the city states it "does not prune or remove trees to preserve views for public or private benefit."
Topping counts as removal for penalty purposes: under TMC 9.20.520C a topped or severely pruned tree "will be considered a removed tree."
The strip out front is your job. The city states that maintenance of trees and vegetation in the public right-of-way is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, and that it "is not currently resourced to maintain trees within the right-of-way." Its Hazardous Tree Assistance Program covers right-of-way trees only; private property trees are ineligible.
Exempt from the Canopy Loss Fee even in the development case: hazard trees with an ISA-certified Tree Risk Assessment, significantly damaged trees, fruit trees, and trees damaging existing infrastructure (TMC 13.06.090B.3.e.(3)(c)).
TMC Chapter 13.06A is repealed. Any older source pointing there for tree conservation is out of date.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— Whether your parcel is in a Critical Area. That is the whole question, and only the city can answer it — call (253) 591-5030.
— Whether a Critical Area removal is processed as a formal permit or as over-the-counter staff review, and what it costs. TMC 13.11.200 and 13.11.210 do not squarely list routine removal of a single healthy tree in a buffer with no construction.
— The current Canopy Loss Fee rate. The Urban Forest Manual says $130 per inch DBH and tip sheet L-093 says $125 per caliper inch. We did not obtain the adopted Planning and Development Services fee schedule that controls.
— How a non-native tree inside Shoreline jurisdiction is treated. The Shoreline Master Program provision speaks to "native shoreline vegetation."
— The penalty for an unpermitted Critical Area removal on private property. TMC 9.20.520 penalties attach to street and public trees; critical-area enforcement runs through TMC 13.11 and the Uniform Enforcement Code, which we did not read.