Tree removal permit rules in Clackamas County, OR — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Unincorporated Clackamas County limits tree removal through ZDO 1002.02: removing more than three non-exempt trees on a lot in one calendar year is 'excessive.' Excessive removal within five years before a development application causes that application to be denied.
ZDO 1002.02 defines tree removal as 'The act of removing a tree by digging up or cutting down, or the effective removal through damage to a tree or its root system.' It states: 'Excessive tree removal is the removal of more than three trees—excluding those identified as exempt in Subsection 1002.02(E)—on a lot of record in a calendar year.' The development sanction is severe: 'If excessive tree removal occurred in the five years immediately preceding the date that a complete application is filed for design review or a conditional use or for a subdivision or partition that is not a middle housing land division, the application will be denied.' Trees under 6-inch DBH, dead/hazardous trees, orchard, Christmas, and listed nuisance
Excessive removal (over three non-exempt trees/year) within five years of a land-use application results in denial of that application; restoration may be required in protected areas.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Clackamas County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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