How to apply for a tree removal permit in Kirkland, Washington

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

  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 for conifers, 10+ inches DBH for deciduous. Landmark trees designated for exceptional significance. Heritage / landmark designation: Landmark trees designated by the city for size, species, or historical significance.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Permit applicants are typically the property owner or an authorized agent — confirm directly with Kirkland before filing.

  3. 3

    Prepare your assessment report

    Prepare a tree assessment report covering tree species, condition, defects, and proposed action. Reports are commonly authored by an ISA Certified Arborist — verify the credential requirement with Kirkland.

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

    Submit your application and assessment report to Planning and Building Department. Reference the full ordinance at https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Kirkland/.

    View the full Kirkland ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: 2:1 replacement for significant tree removal. On-site 2:1 replacement preferred for significant-tree removal (6 inch DBH conifer / 10 inch DBH deciduous) under Kirkland Zoning Code Chapter 95 (Tree Management); fee-in-lieu to tree fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible.

Where to file

Planning and Building Department

(425) 587-3600

Other Washington permit walkthroughs

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

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

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Kirkland permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment