Tree Protection in Olympia, WA (2026)
2 verified tree protection rules for Olympia, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
The City of Olympia, Washington keeps a register of landmark trees under OMC Chapter 16.56. Anyone can nominate a tree, the Public Works Director decides, and the owner's disapproval defeats the nomination. Once registered, removal is prohibited unless a tree removal permit is issued.
Olympia WA Landmark Tree Protection Rules
Significant RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 16.56.040
Within one year of the enactment of the ordinance codified in this chapter the city shall prepare and thereafter maintain a list of landmark trees within the city limits. ... A. Nomination. A tree may be nominated for landmark tree status by the property owner, a neighborhood organization, or any person by submitting a map, a photograph, and a narrative description including the location, speci...
Parkway Planting
In the City of Olympia, Washington, wherever a paved street has a parking strip, trees must be planted under Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 12.44 and the Engineering Design and Development Standards. Trees stay uniform on each street, go in not closer than forty feet apart, and are ash, poplar and similar trees rather than maples or other spreading trees.
Olympia, WA Street Tree and Parking Strip Planting Standards
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code §§ 12.44.010, 12.44.020, 12.44.040, 12.44.050
On all streets within the city which have been paved, or may hereafter be paved, with some permanent material, wherever there is a parking strip, trees shall be planted as provided for in this chapter and the Engineering Design and Development Standards. ... Trees planted as provided for in Section 12.44.010 shall be uniform on each street, and where it is possible for the property owners to ag...
Looking for Thurston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Olympia city rules.
Tree Protection in Thurston County →