Tacoma, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Tacoma, 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
- Fee trigger
- trees 6 inches DBH or larger
- Fee formula
- (loss inches minus replanted caliper) x $/inch
- Applies in
- Urban Residential (UR) zones
- Extra protection
- trees 24+ inches DBH
- Governing section
- TMC § 13.06.090B.3.e(3)(e)
Summary
Removing a tree of 6 inches DBH or larger in Tacoma triggers a Canopy Loss Fee under TMC § 13.06.090B.3.e(3)(e), calculated per inch of canopy lost minus the caliper inches of any replacement trees planted, funding the city's Urban Forestry Program.
A canopy loss fee will be assessed for removal of trees 6” DBH or larger. ... For trees 6” < 18” DBH, the Canopy Loss Fee does not apply to trees removed that are above and beyond the site’s applicable Tree Credit requirement. However, for trees removed below the applicable Tree Credit requirement, a Canopy Loss Fee shall be assessed and is determined by a cost-per-inch DBH removed minus the total caliper inches of replacement trees planted: Canopy Loss Fee = (Canopy loss, in inches – Planted trees caliper, in inches) X $ per inch
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma's tree-retention rules regulate removal by trunk diameter (DBH) rather than banning it outright. Trees 18 inches DBH or larger always draw a per-inch Canopy Loss Fee set in the Urban Forest Manual. Trees between 6 and 18 inches DBH only trigger the fee if their removal drops the site below its required Tree Credit total; in that case the fee equals the canopy inches lost minus the caliper inches of replacement trees actually planted. Trees under 6 inches DBH aren't regulated at all. Hazard trees, significantly damaged trees, fruit trees, and trees damaging infrastructure are exempt from both the retention rule and the fee, and trees 24 inches DBH or larger in Urban Residential districts get added protection against removal.
Violations & Fines
Removing a regulated tree without paying the assessed Canopy Loss Fee, or without meeting an applicable exemption, violates TMC § 13.06.090B and TMC § 13.05.150; the City can require corrective planting and impose Code Enforcement penalties under TMC Chapter 1.82.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I owe a fee for cutting down a large tree in Tacoma?
Can replanting offset the Canopy Loss Fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.