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

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Shoreline'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. Landmark trees designated separately. Heritage / landmark designation: Landmark trees designated under Shoreline Municipal Code 20.50 (Tree Conservation) for exceptional size, species, age, or historical significance.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

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

  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/Shoreline/.

    View the full Shoreline ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    On-site replacement preferred for significant-tree (6 inch DBH conifer / 8 inch DBH deciduous) and landmark-tree removal under Shoreline Municipal Code 20.50 (Tree Conservation); fee-in-lieu to tree-conservation fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible.

Where to file

Planning and Community Development

(206) 801-2500

Other Washington permit walkthroughs

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

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Shoreline permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment