Trees in the Right-of-Way

Planting, Pruning, and Removal Guidelines

Planting

Before planting a tree on City ROW, an RTRE planting permit is required.  A few tips about tree planting in the right-of-way:

• Planting permits are free and are available through the City’s Permit Website.
• Refer to the City’s Planting and Growing postcards to learn tips and tricks to keep your trees healthy through appropriate tree placement, tree species selection, planting, and care.
• Preapproved Street Trees Lists are a great way to start planning for planting.  Be sure to consider how much space you have available to match the size of the mature tree species you choose.

Pruning

As trees grow, they will need pruning to provide a vertical clearance of at least eight feet over the sidewalks and 14 feet over streets and alleys. A permit is required prior to performing any street tree pruning work. The permit is available online at no cost from the Permit Center. You may also call or email. Only an owner of the property abutting the street tree, or the owner’s designee, may apply for a street tree pruning permit.  Pruning must be done in accordance with best management practices and adhere to industry standards such as American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300.

Phone: (253) 591-5030

Email: permitplandesk@tacoma.gov

Removal

Removal of trees within the right-of-way requires a RTRE permit. All tree removal work shall be in compliance with ANSI A300 and Z133.1 and comply with Tacoma Municipal Code chapters 9.20 Urban Forestry and 13.06.090.B, as well as the standards in the Urban Forestry Manual (UFM). 

A permit may be granted if the adjacent property owner, or the owner’s authorized agent, can sufficiently demonstrate that the tree(s) represent one of the following categories approved for removal candidacy:

• Hazardous Tree; defined as: a tree(s) that is found to be likely to fail and has an extreme or high risk to cause property damage, personal injury or fatality in the event of a failure; designated as such by an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist, who has obtained an ISA Tree Risk Assessor Course and Exam certification or Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.
  • If a street tree is an imminent hazard, call (253) 591-5495, to request an emergency inspection.
  •  Hazardous Tree Assistance Program
• Conflict Tree; a tree that by its presence in the public right-of-way directly conflicts or interferes with (a) construction or installation of a utility or public right-of-way improvement; (b) activities performed in the public right-of-way to repair or maintain a utility or public right-of-way improvement; (c) development of real property nearest to and directly abutting that portion of the public right-of-way upon which the street tree is located; or that, (d) damages existing improvements within the right-of-way or abutting property. A tree conflicts or interferes when it is demonstrated that there are no reasonable alternatives available to removal of the conflict tree.
  • Conflict Tree Removals are subject to a Canopy Loss Fee of $130/caliper inch of tree removed minus an equal caliper inch credit for replacement trees planted.
    • Example: One 10-inch caliper tree is removed, three 2-inch caliper trees are replanted.10 inches minus 6 inches (three 2-inch trees) equals 4 inches X $130 = Canopy Loss Fee of $520.
• Tree Damaging Sidewalk
• Prohibited Tree; a species of tree that is unlawful to plant in the public right-of-way pursuant to the adopted Prohibited Tree List of the Urban Forest Manual.
• Nuisance Tree; a tree that constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to Chapter 8.30 TMC.
• Fruit Tree
• Significantly Damaged Tree; a tree that has been previously topped or significantly damaged to an extent that, if left unmanaged through extensive pruning and maintenance, could become a future Hazard Tree.

Canopy Loss Fee only applies to Conflict Trees.  All other Tree Work in the ROW permit types are no-fee permits.

All stumps and surface roots of trees removed shall be ground or removed to at least 8 inches below the surface of the ground.

The following shall not be considered criteria for removal:

• Obstruction of view
• The cost of routine tree maintenance (pruning, watering, fertilizing, etc.)
• Normal maintenance such as raking of leaves and flowers and cleaning of gutters
• Hazards that can be controlled or eliminated through appropriate pruning or maintenance
• Potential damage to public infrastructure or private property, if damage can be avoided by pruning, root pruning, root barriers or other management strategies