Federal Way, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Federal Way, WA, 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 required
- Tree retention plan, FWRC 19.120.020(2)
- Min. tree density, RS zones
- 25 tree units/acre
- Min. tree density, BC/BN/CE/OP/PO
- 20 tree units/acre
- Min. tree density, RM zones
- 30 tree units/acre
- Homeowner exemption threshold
- Under 6 inches dbh
- Penalty, unapproved removal
- $1,000 per tree
- Min. restoration tree size
- 12-ft evergreen / 3-in caliper
Summary
Federal Way requires a director-approved tree retention plan before anyone removes trees on a site, with narrow homeowner exemptions for small-diameter trees. Violators face civil penalties up to $1,000 per tree plus mandatory replanting.
(2) Tree and vegetation retention plan approval required. No person shall remove any trees on a site without first obtaining approval of a tree retention plan by the director, except for those activities that are exempt as described in FWRC 19.120.030. Tree and vegetation removal may also require Class IV – General forest practices application approval as administered by the State Department of Natural Resources.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020(1). 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. 0 units for a tree over 24 inches dbh, so removing large mature trees carries a heavier replacement burden than removing saplings. 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. 160 before any clearing begins.
Violations & Fines
FWRC 19.120.270 sets civil penalties per tree under Table 19.120.270-1: $100 for removing a tree already approved for removal but before final plan approval, and $1,000 per tree, or up to its marketable value as set by a certified arborist, for removing or damaging a tree that was supposed to be retained or removing any tree without required city approval. Each unlawfully removed or damaged tree is a separate violation. Violators must also restore the site to its pre-violation condition and plant replacement trees equal to the tree unit credits lost, using a minimum 12-foot evergreen or 3-inch caliper deciduous tree, within a timeframe the director sets; the director can waive penalties for cooperative first-time violators who acted unintentionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Federal Way?
Can homeowners remove trees on their own property without approval?
What is the fine for removing a tree without approval in Federal Way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle tree removal & heritage trees.