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

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Oregon City'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 land use review. Heritage / landmark designation: Tree preservation framework under Oregon City Municipal Code Chapter 17.41 (Protection of Trees) applies to significant trees on development sites; heritage-level protection accrues to trees of exceptional size, species, age, or historical significance designated through the chapter's preservation provisions.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Eligible applicants in Oregon City: 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 Community Development Department. Typical processing time: 4-6 weeks. Reference the full ordinance at https://www.orcity.org/planning.

    View the full Oregon City ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

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

Where to file

Community Development Department

(503) 722-3789

Other Oregon permit walkthroughs

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

See Oregon heritage criteria compared — how Oregon City's designation rules stack against the rest of the state.

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Oregon City permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment