Bend, OR Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Bend, OR, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit holder
- Adjacent property owner only (BC 3.60.040)
- Lead time
- File 3 working days before work
- Permit length
- Maximum 90 days
- CBD removal
- Replacement plus value reimbursement required
- Violation
- Class A civil infraction (BC 3.60.090)
- Appeal
- 10 working days to the Tree Board
Summary
In the City of Bend, only the City, or an adjacent property owner with a City tree permit, may plant, remove, or heavily prune a tree growing on City property or in the right-of-way. Bend Code § 3.60.040 requires the application at least three working days ahead, and permits last a maximum of 90 days.
No person other than the City may plant, remove, or conduct major pruning of a tree on City property without a City tree permit. A. The permit application, accompanied by the fee established by Council resolution, must be submitted to the City Permit Center at least three working days before the intended activity. Only adjacent property owners may apply for a permit to plant, remove or conduct major pruning on City property. ... D. ... Permits shall be valid for a maximum of 90 days.
Full Breakdown
030 defines to include any tree whose crown extends over City property at all, so a tree that's mostly on private land but overhangs the right-of-way still falls under this permit requirement. Only adjacent property owners may apply, and the application, with the Council-set fee, must reach the City Permit Center at least three working days before the planned work. The permit issues only if it meets the chapter's standards, the Development Code, and the City's Standards and Specifications, and the City can condition it on the work being done or supervised by a licensed and bonded professional arborist.
Permits are valid for a maximum of 90 days. 070. Franchised public utility companies are exempt from the permit requirement itself but must still follow the rest of the chapter, and the City may remove any tree on City property it determines to be hazardous without a permit.
Violations & Fines
Removing, topping, or major-pruning a City-property tree without a permit, or violating any condition of an issued permit, is a Class A civil infraction under BC 3.60.090. Decisions under the chapter, including permit denials or conditions, can be appealed to the Tree Board by filing a written appeal with the City Recorder within 10 working days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the Bend right-of-way in front of my house?
How long does a Bend tree removal permit last?
What happens if I remove a City tree without a permit in Bend?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bend
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