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

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Renton'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. Landmark trees receive enhanced protection. Heritage / landmark designation: Landmark trees designated under Renton Municipal Code 4-4-130 (Tree Retention and Land Clearing) for exceptional size, species, age, or community value.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

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

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

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

    View the full Renton ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: Based on retention percentage (typically 30% for single-family). On-site replacement preferred to meet single-family retention percentage (~30%) under Renton Municipal Code 4-4-130 (Tree Retention and Land Clearing); fee-in-lieu to tree fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible.

Where to file

Community and Economic Development

(425) 430-7294

Other Washington permit walkthroughs

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

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

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Renton permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment