How to apply for a tree removal permit in Mercer Island, Washington

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Mercer Island'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, 8+ for deciduous. Exceptional trees at higher diameter. Heritage / landmark designation: Exceptional trees designated under Mercer Island City Code 19.10 (Tree Code) at diameter thresholds higher than the significant-tree minimum, recognizing trees of exceptional size, species, or community value.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Permit applicants are typically the property owner or an authorized agent — confirm directly with Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island.

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

    Submit your application and assessment report to Community Planning and Development. Reference the full ordinance at https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/MercerIsland/.

    View the full Mercer Island ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    On-site replacement preferred for regulated-tree removal (significant 6 inch DBH conifer / 8 inch DBH deciduous, plus exceptional-tier trees) under Mercer Island City Code 19.10 (Tree Code); fee-in-lieu to tree fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible.

Where to file

Community Planning and Development

(206) 275-7605

Other Washington permit walkthroughs

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

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Mercer Island permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment