Tree protection and removal requirements vary based on a number of factors including whether the tree is located in an environmentally critical area (ECA), the tree tier (if not located within an ECA), zone, and whether a lot is developed or undeveloped.
Outside of ECAs, removal of Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, or Tier 4 trees is generally prohibited in all zones when no development is proposed. However, the tree protection regulations (SMC 25.11) have several exemptions and allowances for tree removal. Most of these removals require SDCI review and approval prior to the tree work. See Tip 242B, Tree Removal on Private Property, for information on tree removal allowances outside of ECAs and fees associated with SDCI review.
If a tree is located within an ECA, the standards for ECAs apply (SMC 25.09). There are no tree tiers for trees located within ECAs and most of the exemptions and allowances for tree removal in the tree protection regulations do not apply within ECAs. This application will ask you to indicate whether the tree is located within an ECA. This is also the application that you must use to request SDCI approval for voluntary vegetation restoration in ECAs.
If you have questions, please contact us via email at sdci-trees@seattle.gov or through SDCI’s Submit a Request form.
If you need to remove a tree on your property, follow these steps to get approval from Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection.
- Log into your Seattle Services Portal account or create one if necessary
- Click on Trees
- Click on Tree Removal or Voluntary Vegetation Restoration Approval Request
- Enter the address of the proposed work and click Search
- Select the correct address and then click Select
- Click Continue Application
- Add yourself as the applicant by clicking Select From Account
- Enter a Description of your project under Detail Information
- Answer the questions under Approval Information based on the request type
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- Set the Request Type to Tree Removal if you are requesting approval to remove a tree
- Set the Request Type to Vegetation Restoration if you are voluntarily restoring vegetation within an Environmentally Critical Area (ECA)
- If this request is to resolve an ECA or Tree Code violation
- Set the Request Type to Response to Code Violation
- Provide the Case/Violation number, formatted as #######-VI
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- Click Continue Application
- Add your Tree Removal Information; click Add a Row, and enter the required information
- Enter the Tree Removal Reason
- For the Response to Code Violation and Vegetation Restoration request types, select the matching Tree Removal Reason
- For the Tree Removal request type:
- Set the Tree Removal Reason to Hazard Tree Removal if the tree is located within an ECA, or if the tree has already been removed due to an emergency
- Set the Tree Removal Reason to Invasive only it the tree species is listed as a King County noxious weed
- The Tree Category will be determined automatically
- Click Submit
- Click Continue Application
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Click Select to upload your required documents
Required documents are the site plan and Statement of Financial Responsibility form. Additional documents may be required, based on your application, including: an arborist report; photos of the tree, defects, and potential targets; a replanting plan; and an International Society of Arboriculture Basic Tree Risk Assessment.
- Click Select again to find your files on your computer
- Select your file (you can select multiple files) and click Done
- Select the document Type from the list of Types in the drop-down for each document you uploaded
- Add a Description of the document
- Repeat steps 15 and 16 for each required document
- Click Save
- Click Continue Application
- Verify your information and then click Continue Application
- Pay your fees; click Checkout, confirm which fees you're paying and click Checkout again, enter your payment information and click Submit Payment