City Permit Required to Remove Trees

Woodinville, WA – Winter is just around the corner and with the winter season comes the possibility of rain, snow, and significant wind storms. In the past the City of Woodinville has experienced wind storms which have toppled trees, damaging power lines and making some streets inaccessible. If you have a tree that you would like to remove prior to this storm season, the City of Woodinville wants to remind residents that there are several tree removal requirements which should be followed when removing trees. The following are the requirements for tree removal in the City of Woodinville:

Tree Removal Requirements:
• A tree removal permit is required to remove a significant tree. Significant trees are classified as any tree with a trunk that has a diameter of 6”.
• Two significant trees may be removed per year without an arborist report.
• If you plan to remove more than two trees, an arborist report is required. The report must be completed by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, and the arborist must have secondary certification in tree risk assessment.
• A tree inventory must also be submitted with the permit application. This includes a list of the trees on your property, including the species or type of tree, and the diameter of the trunk, measured 4.5 feet off the ground. If all required tree credits have been confirmed, a complete inventory is not needed; a partial inventory is acceptable.
• The fee for the tree removal permit is approximately $125 ($75 base fee plus plan review at $87.61 an hour). If incomplete information is given, the fee may be higher because it takes more time to review. The fine for illegally removing a tree is $1,000 per tree.
• Forms are available at http://www.ci.woodinville.wa.us/Work/PermitForms.asp
• Please contact Erin Martindale at 425.877.2283 for questions related to Tree Removal or the Tree Removal permit.


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