3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Whatcom County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
In the City of Bellingham, removing significant trees (six inches or larger) during land clearing or development requires an approved tree retention plan under BMC 16.60. Unincorporated county lots are lighter, apart from critical areas and the Lake Whatcom watershed.
The City of Bellingham protects large, healthy landmark trees, using its landmark tree program to shield significant specimens from removal. Damaging or cutting a protected landmark tree carries real penalties and replacement.
When Bellingham permits removal of significant trees during development, replacement planting is required, with the ratio set by the Planning and Community Development Department to keep the city's tree canopy intact.
1 cities in Whatcom County have their own tree protection rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Whatcom County Ordinance Hub →