Shoreline, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Shoreline, 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
- Clearing/grading permit required before any tree removal
- Retention
- 30-35% of significant trees must be retained
- Tree fund fee
- Fee owed for trees 24+ inches DBH removed
- Per-tree penalty
- $9,000 per significant tree; $15,000 if 24+ inches DBH
- Hours
- 7am-7pm weekdays, 9am-9pm weekends; felling daylight only
- Enforcing agency
- Planning and Community Development Director
Summary
In the City of Shoreline, cutting or removing any tree counts as clearing under SMC § 20.50.300 and needs a permit from the Planning and Community Development Director before work starts, unless the tree qualifies for an exemption under SMC § 20.50.310. Projects in the NR1, NR2, NR3, TC-4, MUR-35' and MUR-45' zones face added penalties for unpermitted removal of significant or protected trees.
A. Tree cutting or removal by any means is considered a type of clearing and is regulated subject to the limitations and provisions of this subchapter. ... ... C. Permit Required. No person shall conduct clearing or grading activities on a site without first obtaining the appropriate permit approved by the Director, unless specifically exempted by SMC § 20.50.310. ... ... H. In addition to subsections A through G of this section, for new development in the NR3, NR2, and NR1, TC-4, MUR-35', and MUR-45' zoning districts, the following standards shall also apply: ... ... 5. Penalties. Any responsible party violating any of the provisions of this subchapter may be subject to any applicable penalties per SMC § 20.30.770 plus the following: a. A square footage cost of $3.00 per square foot of trees and vegetation required for retention that are impacted; and b. A per tree penalty in the amount of $9,000 per significant tree and $15,000 per tree 24 inches dbh and over for trees removed without appropriate permitting as required and/or in violation of the provisions of this subchapter.
Full Breakdown
Shoreline treats tree cutting or removal by any means as a type of clearing, so it falls under Subchapter 5 of the Development Code, SMC §§ 20.50.290 through 20.50.370. Under SMC § 20.50.300(C), no person may conduct clearing or grading activities on a site, including tree removal, without first obtaining a permit approved by the Planning and Community Development Director, unless the work is exempted under SMC § 20.50.310, which covers emergency hazard removal and similar situations. Development applications must retain at least 30 to 35 percent of the significant trees on a site under SMC § 20.50.350(B), and any significant tree 24 inches DBH or larger removed with approval triggers a fee to the City tree fund under Chapter 3.01 SMC on top of the tree replacement required by SMC § 20.50.360.
For new development specifically in the NR1, NR2, NR3, TC-4, MUR-35' and MUR-45' zones, SMC § 20.50.300(H) layers on stop-work authority, a required restoration plan reviewed by the Director of Planning, and site investigation power for staff. Preconstruction meetings under SMC § 20.50.330(E) require the applicant to mark clearing limits, critical area buffers, and trees to be removed or retained before work begins. Hours for tree cutting and grading are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends under SMC § 20.50.340(G), and felling is further restricted to daylight hours.
Violations & Fines
Removing trees in the NR1, NR2, NR3, TC-4, MUR-35' or MUR-45' zones without the required permit exposes a responsible party to the general enforcement penalties of SMC § 20.30.770, plus a square footage cost of $3.00 per square foot of impacted trees and vegetation required for retention, a $9,000 penalty per significant tree, and $15,000 per tree 24 inches DBH or larger removed without permitting, under SMC § 20.50.300(H)(5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Shoreline property?
How many trees must I keep on a development site?
What happens if I cut down a significant tree without a permit?
Can I cut trees at any time of day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shoreline
Compare Shoreline to another location·View the Washington landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle tree removal & heritage trees.