Clackamas County, OR Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

There is no general per-tree permit for private yards, but removal is regulated in two ways. First, ZDO 1002.02 makes removing more than three non-exempt trees on a lot of record in a calendar year 'excessive'; excessive removal in the five years before a land-use application causes that application to be denied. Second, trees within protected overlays are regulated: ZDO 1002 notes removal 'may be regulated under other provisions... such as Section 705 (Willamette River Greenway), Section 706 (Habitat Conservation Area District), and Section 709 (Water Quality Resource Area District), or by conditions of approval on previous land use decisions.' Tree cutting is prohibited within river and stream conservation buffers except for limited exceptions. Cities set their own tree-removal permits.