Olympia, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Olympia, 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
- Tree threshold
- At least one inch d.b.h., maturing at seven feet
- Permit decision
- Within 20 working days of a completed application
- Permit term
- One year, plus one 6 month extension for good cause
- Fee for clearing before permit
- Triple the application fee under OMC § 16.48.060
- Appeal
- Hearing Examiner, within fourteen calendar days
- Misdemeanor fine
- Up to $1,000 and/or 90 days; each day separate
- Enforcing official
- Building Official, City of Olympia
Summary
In the City of Olympia, Washington, no tree of at least one inch d.b.h. comes down without an approved tree protection and replacement plan and a tree removal permit under OMC Chapter 16.48. The Building Official decides within 20 working days, and a permit expires one year after issuance.
No trees, as defined in OMC Section 16.48.030, and associated soil or native vegetation within the critical root zone of the tree(s), may be removed without first obtaining approval of a tree protection and replacement plan and a tree removal permit pursuant to this chapter. No person, corporation, or other legal entity shall engage in land clearing in the City without having complied with one of the following: A. Obtaining approval of a Tree, Soil and Vegetation Plan and obtaining a tree removal permit as provided for in this chapter; B. Receiving a grading permit from the Building Official; or C. Having obtained approval of the proposed work under the processes described in subsection A of OMC Section 16.48.050, after the adoption date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
Full Breakdown
OMC § 16.48.040 bars removal of any tree, and of the soil and native vegetation inside its critical root zone, until the City approves a tree protection and replacement plan and issues a tree removal permit. OMC § 16.48.030 defines a tree as a self-supporting perennial woody plant with one main stem or trunk, at least one inch d.b.h., maturing at a height of seven feet with a definite crown. That is a far lower threshold than a large-tree ordinance, so ordinary yard trees are covered. OMC § 16.48.045 adds that development plans can be required to change so individual trees or groups of trees are preserved.
The application goes on a City form with a plot plan. A professional forester must identify and locate every tree, and the soil and vegetation in its critical root zone, to be removed, retained and protected. The fee is set in Title 4. Under OMC § 16.48.060 the Building Official confers with the environmental review officer and decides within 20 working days of a completed application. A permit expires one year from issuance, with one 6 month extension for good cause, and the Building Official can suspend or revoke it for incorrect information or any violation. The Building Official can also attach conditions that limit mass site grading.
OMC § 16.48.050 exempts emergency clearing for immediate danger to life or property, dead trees, and diseased or damaged trees that are a hazard to life or property. It also exempts clearing within 10 feet of the building line of a single-family or duplex dwelling, and clearing on a parcel under 7,000 square feet for a single-family or duplex residence. That last exemption does not apply within 300 feet of critical areas under OMC 18.32, or within 1,000 feet of important habitats and species. Under OMC § 16.48.070 the Building Official can require a performance bond, capped at the estimated cost of the total restoration work. Anyone aggrieved by a Building Official action has fourteen calendar days to file a notice of appeal with the Hearing Examiner, who rules within ninety calendar days of filing.
Violations & Fines
Under OMC § 16.48.120, a knowing violation is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail, and each day is a separate offense. Continuing violations from the second day on are gross misdemeanors with fines up to $5,000 and/or up to 365 days. A concurrent civil infraction runs Class 3 ($50), Class 2 ($125) and Class 1 ($250) for the first three offenses. Clearing before a permit triples the application fee under § 16.48.060. The Building Official withholds building permits until corrective action such as replanting under Chapter 16.60 is done. Violations are also a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a small tree in the City of Olympia?
How long does Olympia take to decide a tree removal application?
What happens if I cut a tree before getting the permit?
Can I appeal a tree permit decision in Olympia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olympia
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