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

FWRC 19.120.020(2) makes it unlawful to remove any trees on a site without first obtaining approval of a tree retention plan from the director, separate from any clearing and grading plan approval required under FWRC 19.120.020(1). Development sites must meet minimum tree density standards set under Table 19.120.130-1: 20 tree units per acre in the BC, BN, CE, OP, and PO zones, 25 units per acre in RS residential zones, and 30 units per acre in RM zones. Tree unit credits scale with trunk diameter, from 1.0 unit for a tree 1 to 6 inches dbh up to 3.0 units for a tree over 24 inches dbh, so removing large mature trees carries a heavier replacement burden than removing saplings.

A narrow homeowner exemption in FWRC 19.120.030(9) lets an owner of an SE- or RS-zoned lot with a dwelling remove trees under 6 inches dbh without city review, provided the vegetation was never a condition of a prior permit and removal will not change stormwater flow; trees at or above 6 inches dbh on that same lot can only be removed subject to the minimum tree units per acre standard in Table 19.120.130-1. Existing commercial, industrial, and multifamily properties expanding their footprint or impervious area by more than 10 percent or 500 square feet must provide a minimum of one tree unit per 500 square feet of expansion, plus three tree units for every tree unit removed, capped at 25 units per acre. Protected trees and vegetation must be marked and fenced off during construction per FWRC 19.120.160 before any clearing begins.