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.
Tacoma’s Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP)
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
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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
AppendicesDownload the full Urban Forest Management Plan Phase 2: Action Plan
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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
Urban Forest Manual (UFM)
The Urban Forest Manual 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 Entire Urban Forest Manual/button]
Before finalizing development plans, contact Planning and Development Services at (253) 591-5030, or visit them at 747 Market Street, Third Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402, to verify that all other applicable City of Tacoma codes and manuals have been met.
If you have questions or concerns about the Urban Forest Manual, please contact Planning and Development Services at (253) 591-5030.
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Cover
Table of Contents
IntroductionChapter 1Â – Landscaping Applicability and Types
Chapter 2Â – Landscaping Requirements
Chapter 3Â – Credits and Flexibility
Chapter 4Â – General Landscaping Standards
Chapter 5Â – Landscape Plans
Chapter 6Â – Landscape Management Plans (LMPs)
Chapter 7Â – Tree Protection During Construction -
Planting and Protection
LS-01Â – Street Tree Planting
LS-02Â – Street Tree Clearance
LS-03Â – Tree Well Dimension
LS-04 – Tree & Shrub Planting on Slopes
LS-05Â – Shrub Planting
LS-06Â – Groundcover Planting
LS-08Â – Tree Protection During Construction
LS-09Â – Tree Protection Fencing
LS-10Â – Tree Protection Fencing for Trees in Paved Areas
LS-11Â – Reusable Tree Protection Fencing for Paved AreasSoil Amendments
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Appendix 1Â – Landscaping Calculations Worksheet
Appendix 2Â – Sample Landscape Plan
Appendix 3Â – Landscape Management Plan (LMP) Template
Appendix 4Â – 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 ListApproved Food-Producing Tree List
Appendix 8Â – Urban Residential Tree Requirements Summary
Appendix 9 – Urban Residential Case Study
Appendix 10 – Plan Submittal Checklist