How to apply for a tree removal permit in Medford, Oregon

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Medford's tree-protection ordinance. For the underlying DBH thresholds, protected-species list, and full fee schedule, see the city ordinance page.

Expected processing time: 4-6 weeks. Plan removal timing accordingly — emergency-tree provisions may differ.

  1. 1

    Determine if your tree is regulated

    Trees at or above 6" DBH (diameter at breast height) are regulated. Significant tree: 6 inches DBH or greater on development sites. Tree preservation required during development per land development code.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Eligible applicants in Medford: Property owner or authorized agent with arborist report.

  3. 3

    Prepare your assessment report

    Your assessment report must include: Tree inventory with DBH, species, condition, retention plan, mitigation calculation. Required certifications: ISA Certified Arborist.

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

    Submit your application and assessment report to Planning Department. Typical processing time: 4-6 weeks. Reference the full ordinance at https://www.ci.medford.or.us/planning.

    View the full Medford ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation. On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible.

Where to file

Planning Department

(541) 774-2380

Other Oregon permit walkthroughs

See Oregon replacement obligations compared — how Medford's replacement ratio ranks against the rest of the state.

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Medford permit?

Capture an ISA TRAQ Level 1, 2, or 3 assessment in the field and export a municipality-ready PDF that fits Medford's required report sections. Free, no account required.

Start a TRAQ assessment