Tree removal permit rules in Portland, OR — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Portland has one of the strictest tree-protection ordinances in the Pacific Northwest. PCC Title 11 ('Trees') requires a permit from Portland Urban Forestry to remove any street tree (any size) and to remove most private-property trees ≥12 inches DBH (diameter at breast height). Removing a tree without a permit can trigger fines up to $1,000 per inch of DBH under PCC 11.45 plus mandatory replacement.
PCC Title 11 was overhauled in 2015 to unify street and private-tree rules under a single Tree Code administered by the Bureau of Parks & Recreation's Urban Forestry division and PCC 11.50 for development sites administered by BDS. Key thresholds: street trees of any size require a permit (PCC 11.40.020); private trees ≥12 inches DBH on lots ≥5,000 sq ft generally require an Urban Forestry permit before removal (PCC 11.40.020); 'large trees' ≥20 inches DBH require additional review and replacement. Permits cost $54-$396 depending on type, with no fee for hazard removals confirmed by a city arborist. Removed trees must be replaced 1:1 (or fee-in-lieu paid to the Tree Planting Fund) under PCC 11.40.040. Heritage Trees designated under PCC 11.20 cannot be removed except for hazard. Developers face additional preservation requirements under PCC 11.50 (tree-preservation calculations as part of building/development permits).
PCC 11.45 sets civil penalties of up to $1,000 per inch of DBH for unpermitted removal — a 30-inch tree carries a $30,000 maximum fine, plus mandatory replacement and a 5-year monitoring plan. Damage to street trees during construction is fined separately under PCC 11.45.030. Repeated violations can trigger stop-work orders on the property under PCC 24.10 and BDS development-permit holds.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Multnomah County.
See how other cities in Multnomah County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
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