Snohomish County, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Snohomish County, 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
- Replacement ratio
- 3 trees per 1 removed
- Removal exception
- Certified-arborist hazard letter
- Penalty chapter
- SCC Ch. 30.85 fine
- Dead/diseased trees
- Exempt with arborist letter
- Applies to
- Development in urban growth areas
Summary
Retained or replacement significant trees on Snohomish County development sites cannot be removed unless a certified arborist certifies a hazard in writing. Any retained significant tree damaged or removed during development must be replaced three-for-one, plus a fine.
Any significant trees identified in a landscape plan to be retained and subsequently damaged or removed during site development shall be replaced at a rate of three trees for each one damaged or removed significant tree. Failure to replace...shall be subject to a fine as determined under chapter 30.85 SCC.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under SCC 30.25.016(11), retained significant trees, trees planted to replace significant trees, and trees planted to meet canopy requirements may not be removed except when a certified arborist determines in writing that the tree is a hazard; removal without that documentation triggers a fine under SCC Ch. 30.85. SCC 30.25.016(12) adds that any significant tree shown on a landscape plan for retention that is later damaged or removed during site development must be replaced at three trees for each one lost, also subject to a Ch. 30.85 fine. Removal of hazardous, dead, or diseased trees (with an arborist letter) is exempt under SCC 30.25.016(1)(a).
Violations & Fines
Removing a retained/replacement significant tree without certified-arborist hazard documentation, or failing the 3:1 replacement, is subject to a fine set under SCC Ch. 30.85.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a tree marked to be retained?
What if a retained tree is destroyed during construction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
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