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

Renton Municipal Code 4-4-130 (Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations) protects trees to preserve canopy cover, slope stability, wildlife habitat, and water quality along Cedar River and Lake Washington. On developed residential single-family lots, owners can remove up to 3 significant trees (6 inches diameter at breast height or larger, or 8 inches for cottonwoods and alders) per calendar year with a minor tree removal approval. Removal of more than 3 trees per year or removal of any tree larger than 30 inches DBH requires a Tree Removal Permit and typically requires replacement plantings at a 2-to-1 ratio. New residential development and subdivisions must retain a minimum percentage of significant trees (commonly 30 percent) per RMC 4-4-130 standards. Trees in critical areas (wetland buffers, stream buffers including May Creek and Cedar River, steep slopes, landslide hazard areas) and shoreline jurisdiction cannot be removed without approval from CED and often require a critical areas report or geotechnical review. Hazard trees dying or threatening structures can be removed with an ISA arborist report submitted to the city, but replacement may still be required.