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

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Redmond'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. Redmond Zoning Code requires tree retention plans during development.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

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

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

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

    View the full Redmond ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: Based on retention percentage and tree category.

Where to file

Planning and Community Development

(425) 556-2440

Other Washington permit walkthroughs

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

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Redmond permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment