Tree replacement requirements in Oregon
Mitigation obligations across 15 verified Oregon cities, ranked ascending by replacement ratio. Numbers come directly from each city's published ordinance — heritage and specimen trees typically carry higher ratios than standard protected trees.
Replacement obligation comparison
Sorted ascending by minimum n:1 ratio. Cities with text-only or retention-percentage rules appear last. Click a city for the full ordinance page or the ordinance link for the underlying municipal code.
| City | Replacement ratio | Replacement details | In-lieu fee/tree | Processing | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland |
1:1
1:1 to 2:1 mitigation based on tree category |
On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | — | Ordinance |
| Portland |
1:1
1:1 to 3:1 depending on tree size and reason for removal; in-lieu fees to Tree Planting and Preservation Fund available |
On-site replacement preferred; payment to Tree Planting and Preservation Fund if infeasible. | — | 2-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Beaverton | Based on retention percentage and mitigation standards | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | — | Ordinance |
| Salem | Based on tree category and site retention requirements | On-site replacement preferred; in-lieu fee to tree fund when infeasible. | — | 3-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Lake Oswego | Based on tree size category and reason for removal | On-site replacement with minimum caliper standards; in-lieu fee available. | — | 3-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| West Linn | Based on tree size category and reason for removal (typically 1:1 to 2:1) | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Gresham | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Medford | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Hillsboro | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation or tree unit replacement | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Oregon City | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation or tree unit replacement | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Tigard | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation or tree unit replacement | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to Urban Forestry Fund when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Tualatin | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation or tree unit replacement | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Wilsonville | Inch-for-inch caliper mitigation or tree unit replacement | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu to tree fund when infeasible. | — | 4-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Eugene | Inch-for-inch caliper replacement on site or payment to tree fund | On-site replacement preferred; in-lieu payment to Tree Planting Fund if infeasible. | — | 3-6 weeks | Ordinance |
| Springfield | Inch-for-inch caliper replacement or tree fund payment | On-site replacement preferred; fee-in-lieu when infeasible. | — | 3-6 weeks | Ordinance |
How Oregon replacement obligations work
- Which city requires the highest replacement ratio in Oregon?
- Ashland, Oregon carries the highest verified replacement ratio in Oregon at 1:1 (per its ordinance: "1:1 to 2:1 mitigation based on tree category"). Across 2 verified cities with numeric ratios, the median is 1:1 and the lowest is 1:1.
- What's the typical replacement obligation when a tree is removed?
- Most cities in Oregon require 1:1 replacement at minimum, with heritage or specimen trees typically carrying enhanced ratios (often 2:1 or 3:1). Median replacement ratio across 2 verified cities is 1:1. Many ordinances also accept an in-lieu fee per tree when on-site replanting isn't feasible.
- Can I pay an in-lieu fee instead of replanting trees in Oregon?
- Most cities in Oregon accept in-lieu mitigation deposits to a tree planting fund when on-site replanting isn't feasible, but the per-tree dollar amount isn't published as a flat fee — it's calculated case-by-case (often based on caliper inches or assessed value). Verify with the municipal forester.
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