Kent, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Kent, 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
- Protected size
- 6-inch DBH or greater
- Applies to
- Undeveloped land, new single-family/duplex development
- Density minimum
- 20 tree density credits per net acre
- Illegal removal penalty
- 2 replacement trees per 6-inch tree removed
- Exempt uses
- Multifamily, commercial, institutional, industrial development
- Permit needed
- City-approved tree retention plan before permit
Summary
Kent requires retention of significant trees on undeveloped property before development: KCC 15.08.240(B) mandates that all trees six inches in diameter or greater be kept in place unless a city-approved tree retention plan or the director's alternative provision allows otherwise. Illegally removed or damaged retained trees must be replaced two-for-one under KCC 15.08.240(I).
15.08.240 Preservation of trees.
B. General restrictions for all districts. Except as provided for in this section, on undeveloped property in the city, all trees of a six-inch diameter or greater shall be retained on the property where they are growing.
...
I. Replacement of removed or damaged trees. Trees removed illegally from undeveloped land or trees designated for retention which are damaged or destroyed shall be replaced as follows:
1. One existing tree with a six-inch DBH shall be replaced by two new trees.
2. For each additional three inches of diameter at breast height, one new replacement tree shall be added, up to a maximum of six trees.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4542, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
240 governs tree preservation on undeveloped land within new single-family and duplex development, including subdivisions, short subdivisions, planned unit developments, and development of existing lots; multifamily, commercial, institutional, and industrial developments are exempt under subsection (C)(2). Subsection (B)'s general rule requires retention of every tree six inches or greater in diameter at breast height (DBH) unless the section's exceptions apply. Before a development permit issues, subsection (E) requires an applicant to submit and get city approval of a tree retention plan containing a licensed arborist's tree inventory (species and DBH) and a scaled site plan showing retained trees, limits of disturbance, and protection measures.
Development must also meet a tree density credit minimum of 20 credits per net acre under subsection (D), earned through retaining existing trees, planting supplemental trees, or both, using the DBH-to-credit table in Table A. Subsection (F) requires temporary fencing around each retained tree's limits of disturbance before site work begins, and bars construction activity inside that protected area except by permit. The economic and community development director may approve an alternative tree provision under subsection (H) if it's consistent with the chapter's purpose and consolidates other vegetation retention.
Subsection (I) sets the replacement penalty for illegal removal or damage: a six-inch DBH tree must be replaced with two new trees, plus one more tree for each additional three inches of diameter, capped at six replacement trees per removed tree.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree from undeveloped property without following KCC 15.08.240 is treated as illegal removal under subsection (I): the violator must replace a six-inch DBH tree with two new trees, and add one more replacement tree for every additional three inches of diameter, up to six replacement trees total. Building without an approved tree retention plan under subsection (E) can also delay or block permit issuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree before building in Kent?
What happens if I illegally cut down a protected tree in Kent?
Does Kent's tree preservation rule apply to commercial development?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kent
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle tree removal & heritage trees.