Bothell, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Bothell Municipal Code § 12.12.030 bars any person, corporation, or other legal entity from conducting Class I, II, III or IV forest practices, or engaging in or causing land clearing in the City of Bothell, Washington, without a forest practices/land clearing permit. Both permit types follow the procedures in BMC Title 11, Administration of Development Regulations. Chapter 12.12 BMC states its purpose as preventing the indiscriminate removal or destruction of trees and ground cover on undeveloped and partially developed property.

A complete application under BMC 12.12.050 carries a plot plan showing the location, type, size, and condition of existing trees, a tree retention plan consistent with BMC 12.18.030 including calculations, the expected start and completion dates, a critical area report when applicable, and a temporary erosion sedimentation control plan. The applicant also signs a development review billing form committing to the fees in the city fee resolution.

The approval criteria in BMC 12.12.060 require compliance with Chapter 12.18 BMC, including retention of significant trees, plus the Title 13 shoreline rules and the Title 14 environment rules. The criteria also call for retaining clusters of trees for the abatement of noise and for wind protection.

BMC 12.12.040 lists the exemptions. No separate permit is needed when a development permit application is on file, as long as the site is not altered while it is pending. Also exempt are removal in emergencies involving immediate danger to life or property or substantial fire hazards, removal of dead or diseased trees, removal of invasive, nonnative trees unless located within a critical area or its buffer, and removal of ornamental landscape trees installed for aesthetic purposes with a residential use. Maintenance on developed properties of one half acre or less is exempt unless the work uses a bulldozer or similar mechanical earth-moving equipment. Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar and other timber trees as determined by the director of community development do not count as ornamental landscape trees. BMC 12.12.090 prohibits burning trees, shrubs, or ground cover.