Tree Protection in Tacoma, WA (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for Tacoma, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Tacoma's Heritage Tree Program lets a property owner, or a resident with the owner's consent, nominate an exceptionally large, old, or historic tree for City designation. Qualifying trees need a trunk at least 30 inches in diameter, or 65 percent of the state record for that species.
Tacoma Heritage Tree Designation Program
Light RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 9.20.420
To qualify as a heritage tree, the minimum trunk diameter (DBH) must be a minimum of the lessor of 30 inches or 65 percent of the largest documented diameter for a tree of that species in Washington as established in the most recent edition of the publication "Champion Trees of Washington State" by author Robert Van Pelt, published by University of Washington Press.
Protected Tree Species
Inside Tacoma's designated Biodiversity Areas, a conifer over 30 inches DBH or a madrone over 12 inches DBH counts as an 'exceptional tree' that development must retain; removing one requires replacement planting at double the normal mitigation ratio.
Tacoma Exceptional Tree Protection Standards
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 13.11.550
“Exceptional tree” means a tree or group of trees that because of its unique historical, ecological, or aesthetic value constitutes an important community resource, and is determined as such by the Director according to standards and procedures promulgated by the Department of Planning and Development. Conifers greater than 30 inches DBH, and Madrone greater than 12 inches DBH are considered ex...
Parkway Planting
Tacoma requires a City street tree permit before anyone plants a tree in the planting strip or other public right-of-way, under the 2023 Urban Forestry code, TMC § 9.20.230.
Tacoma Street Tree Planting Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsTacoma Municipal Code § 9.20.230
Permit required. Unless an exemption under this chapter applies, it shall be unlawful for any person to, in any manner, plant any street tree without having first obtained a street tree permit from the Director as provided in this chapter. 2. Compliance. Unless an exemption under this chapter applies, it shall be unlawful for any person issued a street tree permit for the purpose of planting...
Looking for Pierce County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tacoma city rules.
Tree Protection in Pierce County →