Urban Forestry Code, Policy, and Manuals

Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee 

• February 12, 2025: City of Tacoma – File #: 25-0096
• February 26, 2025: City of Tacoma – File #: 25-0143 

 City Council Study Session 

• May 6, 2025: City of Tacoma – File #: 25-0411 

 City Council Meeting 

• May 13, 2025: City of Tacoma – File #: RES41682 

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. 

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

2023 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

2022 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

2021 – Urban Forest Management Plan Progress Report

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.

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

Soil Amendments

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