This page provides information about urban forestry, street tree, and tree protection programs for local governments in Washington State, including relevant statutes and examples of local programs and ordinances.
Overview
Urban forestry is the management of forest ecosystems in and around cities. State and local officials work with parks and recreation departments, land use planners, utilities, and citizen organizations to promote and manage urban forestry resources.
These ecosystems may be varied and complex, including parks and community forests, watersheds and critical areas, street trees and other trees on public lands or rights-of-way, and trees on private property.
Citizens receive a wide range of benefits from trees and urban forests, including recreational and cultural opportunities, energy conservation, protection from sun and heat, improved stormwater management, enhanced animal and plant biodiversity, increased property values, and more.
Many local governments have established goals to increase the amount of tree canopy coverage and restrict or regulate the removal of trees, especially large or significant trees.
Statutes
Encouraging Urban Forestry Education and Donations
The following statutes encourage local governments and utility companies to provide utility customers with landscaping information, including tree planting for energy conservation, and to request voluntary donations for urban forestry:
Examples of Urban Forestry Plans and Programs
Below are selected examples of urban forestry plans and programs from Washington cities that seek to maintain or increase their existing tree canopy coverage and educate residents about the importance of trees.
- Covington Urban Forestry Strategic Plan for Publicly-Managed Trees (2013)
- Hoquiam Tree City Award – Information about city's Tree City USA designation, urban forestry management plan, and urban forest advisory board
- Kirkland Urban Forestry Strategic Management Plan (2013)
- Lacey Urban Forest Management Plan (2013)
- Lake Forest Park Tree Walks of Lake Forest Park – Booklets and guides containing information about the city's trees, including self-guided walking tours
- Longview Urban Forestry Program – Includes urban forest management plan and a tree benefits calculator
- Olympia Urban Forestry – Requires minimum number of "tree units" per acre; includes many resource links
- Renton Urban and Community Forestry – Webpage includes tree inventory, regulations, tree owner's manual, and FAQs
- Seattle Trees for Seattle – Umbrella webpage for all of the city's urban forestry programs; includes Street Tree Manual and information on tree removal, tree canopy, and tree topping
- Shoreline Trees – Addresses trees in critical areas, trees of significant size, trees in the public right-of-way, hazardous trees, and pruning on private property.
- Spokane Urban Forestry – Information on tree permits, tree benefits, planting and care, and options to donate to the urban forestry program
- Tacoma Urban Forestry – Includes programs providing free or discounted trees to local residents to help city achieve its tree canopy coverage goals
- Vancouver Urban Forestry – Webpage includes links to management plan, canopy reports, work plans, and annual reports. Establishes two permits programs: one for street trees and one for private trees
Examples of Tree Protection Ordinances
- Bainbridge Island Ordinance No. 2018-25 (2018) – Emergency interim ordinance prohibits removal of any "landmark tree" without public process. Definition of landmark tree varies by species and is established by tree diameter at breast height. Anyone seeking to remove a landmark tree must submit an application, followed by a public hearing. Approval can only be granted if certain conditions are met. Ordinance expires after 6 months.
- Camas Ordinance No. 18-014 (2018) – Numerous updates to city’s urban tree program, including creating new city tree fund, requiring permits for street tree removal, amending fines for injuring or destroying trees and landscaping in parks, and addressing landscape plans and minimum tree density for new developments
- Covington Tree Preservation Ordinance – Plain-language description of city's tree ordinance; limits tree removal and allows for voluntary designation of "heritage trees" by private property owner or on public property
- Olympia Municipal Code Ch. 16.56 – Protects "landmark trees" based on factors such as historical associations, rare or unusual species, or exceptional aesthetic quality
- Redmond Tree Removal – Sets annual limit on number of healthy significant trees that may be removed from properties each year; includes tips, application form, and FAQs
- Seattle Tree Protection Code – Overview of city ordinance limiting the number and size of trees and other vegetation that may be removed from properties.
- Walla Walla Municipal Code Ch. 12.50 – Protects "heritage trees" based on factors such as historical associations, rare or unusual species, exceptional aesthetic quality, or large size
Examples of Street Tree Regulations
Street Trees and Sidewalk Damage
Tree Trimming and Replacement for Utilities
Examples of Leaf and Waste Wood Removal Programs
Recommended Resources
Below are some organizations and resources to help local governments manage and improve their urban forestry and street tree programs.
- WA Department of Natural Resources: Urban and Community Forestry – Provides technical, financial, and educational assistance to local governments, including grant opportunities and Tree Link newsletter
- American Planning Association: Planning for Urban and Community Forestry – Best practices on how urban and community forestry can be integrated into long-range and current planning. Includes downloadable publication Planning the Urban Forest: Ecology, Economy, and Community Development, which is free for APA members and is also available through MRSC Library Loan).
- American Public Works Association: Urban Forestry Best Management Practices for Public Works Managers:
- Society of Municipal Arborists – Professional association for municipal arborists and urban foresters
- International Society of Arboriculture – Promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees
- Tree Ordinance Guidelines – Guidelines for writing street tree ordinances, tree protection ordinances, and view ordinances, based on a study of city and county ordinances in California
- Arbor Day Foundation – Sponsors Tree City USA program, which provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in American cities and towns
- University of Washington: Safe Streets – Surveys the research on the benefits of roadside vegetation
- Cornell University: Community Forestry – Includes information about conducting a street tree inventory, as well as other recommendations and resources
- U.S. Forest Service: i-Tree – Free software suite that provides urban and rural forestry analysis and benefit assessment tools