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Content current as of 01/21/26

Urban Forestry Code, Policy, and Manuals

Trees are a valuable community asset, enhancing our parks and open spaces, reducing urban heat island impacts, capturing air pollution, intercepting stormwater runoff, and improving safety in our neighborhoods and business districts.  A healthy, thriving, and sustainable urban forest is a community priority, to be thoughtfully managed and cared for by partnerships between the City and our community.

Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC) – Chapter 9.20 Urban Forestry

On December 12, 2023, Tacoma City Council passed Ordinance 28926, creating TMC 9.20 Urban Forestry, which regulates removal, pruning, and planting of trees in the right-of-way.

TMC 9.20 Urban Forestry includes:

  • Permit requirements for pruning, removal and planting of street trees
  • The establishment of a heritage tree program
  • Policies and procedures for discretionary review of requests to prune trees on public real property
  • Provisions for enforcement for violations; and,
  • Appeals process to ensure consistency with other areas of TMC.

Urban Forestry Policies

These policies promote best management practices to be applied in the siting, design, planting, maintenance, and removal of trees and vegetation in the public right-of-way (ROW); retention of as many mature trees as practicable during the development of City-owned land and public ROW; and the adoption of a heritage tree ordinance.

Contact

City of Tacoma Urban Forestry

(253) 502-2138

326 East D Street
Tacoma, WA 48021

Urban Forest Priority Action Plan

In response to overwhelming community support for enhancing Tacoma’s tree canopy, City Council adopted the Urban Forest Priority Action Plan (Resolution No. 41682), in May 2025. The plan outlines a set of phased actions to expand the City’s work planting and maintaining trees, as well as regulatory and non-regulatory tools for tree preservation citywide. The four phases of this plan (see below) are designed to steer public engagement, policy options, and budget proposals for City Council consideration.

What’s Happening Now?

  • Fall 2025 – Tacoma staff and Council are attending Neighborhood Council Meetings to further understand community priorities around tree management in Tacoma. 
  • Fall 2025 – Finalized contract with the consulting firm, Mithun, to lead the new land use and development regulations regarding tree canopy management and preservation.
Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability (IPS) Committee

February 12, 2025
 City of Tacoma – File #: 25-0096

February 26, 2025
City of Tacoma – File #: 25-0143 

2026 IPS Meetings

January 28, 2026
Urban Forest Priority Action Plan: Neighborhood Council Report Out

  • Presenter: Council Member Kristina Walker, Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee, Tacoma City Council
  • Description: Council Member Kristina Walker will report on her discussions with Neighborhood Councils about potentially expanding City maintenance of trees in the right of way and new land use and development regulations for tree canopy management and preservation.

January 28, 2026
Evaluating Tacoma’s Wood Waste Streams and Circular Economy

  • Potential Presenters: Ryan Hebert, Urban Forestry Analyst; Mike Carey, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Environmental Services
  • Description: Summary of findings from Council-commissioned study (Res. 41555) Urban Wood Reuse Program, characterizing and improving upon the current state of wood reuse in Tacoma, in alignment with adopted climate and waste diversion policies. Conducted by Cambium Carbon, the study estimated current wood waste generation and disposal volumes and identified five clear opportunities to improve Tacoma’s wood reuse system.

March 25, 2026
Tree and Landscaping Code Update

  • Presenters: Adam Nolan, Senior Planner, Planning and Development Services; Claire Mardian, Consultant, Mithun
  • Description: Staff will provide an update on the Tree/Landscaping Code Amendments, with a focus on project background and key policy options.

May 27, 2026
South Tacoma Tree Canopy Enhancement

  • Presenter: Mike Carey, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Environmental Services
  • Description: The City of Tacoma has partnered with the Washington Department of Ecology to strategize green infrastructure investments in the South Tacoma Neighborhood. This presentation will provide an overview of the scope of work with the City and Ecology, including anticipated investments, programs, and projects to increase tree canopy.

June 24, 2026
Tree and Landscaping Code Update

  • Presenters: Adam Nolan, Senior Planner, Planning and Development Services; Claire Mardian, Consultant, Mithun
  • Description: Staff will provide an update on the Tree/Landscaping Code Amendments, with a focus on the draft code options being considered for release as part of the Planning Commission’s public hearing process.

July 22, 2026
Urban Forestry Priority Action Plan Update: Right-of-Way Tree Analysis

  • Presenters: Ryan Hebert, Urban Forestry Analyst; Mike Carey, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Environmental Services
  • Description: Resolution 41682 directs the City to prepare level-of-service options for expanding the maintenance of City trees in rights-of-way. This presentation will quantify Tacoma’s urban forest assets in rights-of-way, present different level-of-service options, and discuss potential funding mechanisms to expand the City’s street tree management program.

September 9, 2026
Green Blocks South Tacoma – Plantable Space Inventory Findings and Project Progress

  • Presenters: Lisa Kenny, Community Tree Program Coordinator; Mike Carey, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Environmental Services
  • Description: This presentation will highlight the findings from the South Tacoma Plantable Space Inventory and provide an overview of the Green Blocks South End planting program, funded through the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan, Resolution 41698, and the Urban Forestry Program’s annual Community Tree Program budget.
 City Council Study Session
 City Council Meeting
Mike Carey - Urban Forest Program Manager
Phone: 253-404-6989

The intention of Phase One is to deepen the City’s understanding of the public demand for expanding the City’s Urban Forestry Program and advancing implementation of the Urban Forestry Management Plan. 

Phase One Progress Report:  

  • Council Member Kristina Walker launched a series of engagements with Neighborhood Councils to gather community input on expanding the City’s Urban Forestry Program and advancing implementation of the Urban Forestry Management Plan. Final report coming soon! 
  • Environmental Services has initiated a contract with a consultant using non-General Fund resources to support analysis, planning, and development of code and tasks as needed.  

Phase Two will include the preparation of level of service options to be considered, which would enable the expansion of City tree maintenance in the right-of-way.  This range of options will be accompanied by revenue alternatives to fund program enhancements in preparation of the 2027-20208 biennial budget.  

Phase Three will launch the Planning Commission process for developing new land use and development regulations regarding tree canopy management and preservation. The Planning Commission process is a public process that allows for community engagement and comments to be considered during the critical stage of code development. This process may take time, but it is required by law to allow for public input when creating new land use and development regulations.  

Phase Four includes the recommendation from the Planning Commission for new land use and development regulations to be provided to the City Council to consider for adoption. City Council will hold a separate public process and consider any amendments based on public comment, and plans to adopt new regulations in 2027. 

Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP)

The UFMP functions as a management tool for City staff to support citywide environmental health that is transparent to the public regarding the actions taken on behalf of the broader community. The UFMP also sets standards for tracking and reporting progress toward our goals.

Download the Urban Forest Management Plan Phase 1: Research Summary

Adopted by City Council in December 2019 (Resolution 40492), the UFMP strengthens urban forestry goals, strategies, actions, and targets throughout Tacoma. The plan works in tandem with the 2015 One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan and the 2021 Climate Action Plan.

The UFMP outlines meaningful actions that the City and our partners are committed to taking, with support from the community, between 2020 and 2030 to protect and grow our community forest from 20% tree canopy (the lowest in the region) to a healthy, thriving, 30% overall tree canopy coverage.

The UFMP functions as a management tool for City staff to support citywide environmental health that is transparent to the public regarding the actions taken on behalf of the broader community. The UFMP also sets standards for tracking and reporting progress toward our goals.

Download the full Urban Forest Management Plan Phase 1: Research Summary

Introduction
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Element 1 – Existing Policies and Plans
Element 2 – City Staff Interviews
Element 3 – Urban Forest Benchmarks
Element 4 – High-Level & In-Depth Data Analysis
Element 5 – Community Interests & Input
Element 6 – The Urban Forest Audit System
Conclusion
Appendices

Download the full Urban Forest Management Plan Phase 2: Action Plan

Introduction
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Strategy 1 – Management Policy
Strategy 2 – Professional Capacity
Strategy 3 – Funding & Authority
Strategy 4 – Inventories & Plans
Strategy 5 – Risk & Disaster Management
Strategy 6 – Community Engagement
UFMP Action Plan Timetable
Conclusion
Appendices

2024 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

2023 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

2022 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

2021 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

Urban Forest Manual (UFM)

The Urban Forest Manual (UFM) is a technical guide created to facilitate the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of landscaping that is required for new development and redevelopment per the Tacoma Municipal Code, Title 13.06.090.B, Landscaping Standards.

Download the Urban Forest Manual

The UFM is a technical guide created to facilitate the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of landscaping that is required for new development and redevelopment per the Tacoma Municipal Code, Title 13.06.090.B, Landscaping Standards. The UFM is intended to be used concurrently with Tacoma Municipal Code, Title 13.06.090.B to ensure the requirements and standards are executed properly. This manual can also be used as a guide for the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of any landscaping project.

Download the Urban Forest Manual (PDF)

Before finalizing development plans, call or stop by Planning and Development Services to verify that all other applicable City of Tacoma codes and manuals have been met. They are located at:

Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market Street, Third Floor
Tacoma, WA 98402

If you have questions or concerns about the Urban Forest Manual, please contact Planning and Development Services.

Planning and Development Services

Cover
Table of Contents
Introduction

Chapter 1 – Landscaping Applicability and Types
Chapter 2 – Landscaping Requirements
Chapter 3 – Credits and Flexibility
Chapter 4 – General Landscaping Standards
Chapter 5 – Landscape Plans
Chapter 6 – Landscape Management Plans (LMPs)
Chapter 7 – Tree Protection During Construction

Glossary

Planting and Protection

LS-01 – Street Tree Planting
LS-02 – Street Tree Clearance
LS-03 – Tree Well Dimension
LS-04 – Tree & Shrub Planting on Slopes
LS-05 – Shrub Planting
LS-06 – Groundcover Planting
LS-08 – Tree Protection During Construction
LS-09 – Tree Protection Fencing
LS-10 – Tree Protection Fencing for Trees in Paved Areas
LS-11 – Reusable Tree Protection Fencing for Paved Areas
Soil Amendments
GSI-01b – Option 2 – Amend in Place
GSI-01c – Option 4 – Imported Topsoil

Appendix 1 – Landscaping Calculations Worksheet
Appendix 2 – Sample Landscape Plan
Appendix 3 – Landscape Management Plan (LMP) Template
Appendix 4 – Sample Tree Protection Plan & Sample Arborist Report
Appendix 5 – Tree Protection Zone Sign – General
Appendix 6 – Tree Protection Zone Sign – for Trees in Paved Areas
Appendix 7a – Prohibited/Not Recommended Tree List
Appendix 7b – Approved Small Tree List
Appendix 7c – Approved Medium Tree List
Appendix 7d – Approved Large Tree List

Approved Food-Producing Tree List

Appendix 8 – Urban Residential Tree Requirements Summary
Appendix 9 – Urban Residential Case Study
Appendix 10 – Plan Submittal Checklist

Additional Plans & Documents

Environment + Watershed Health (2015) Environmental Action Plan (2016) Urban Forest Management Plan (2019) Climate Emergency Resolution (2019) Climate Action Plan (2021)

Contact

City of Tacoma Urban Forestry

(253) 502-2138

326 East D Street
Tacoma, WA 48021