Seattle, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk clearance
- 8 feet minimum above sidewalk
- Street clearance
- 14 feet minimum above roadway
- Permit needed for
- Planting, removal, or major pruning
- Enforcing agency
- Seattle Dept. of Transportation (SDOT)
- Owner default penalty
- City does work, bills cost +15%
- Max civil penalty
- $500/day, plus $1,000/day peak period
Summary
Property owners abutting a public sidewalk in Seattle must prune the street trees and vegetation fronting their lot so branches don't block streetlights, traffic signs, signals, or sightlines at intersections. SMC 15.43.040 sets a hard clearance floor: 8 feet above the sidewalk and 14 feet above the street. SDOT can do the pruning itself and bill the owner if the standard isn't met.
Pruning street trees in abutting public places and trees on private property so that the trees do not obstruct street lights, traffic signs or signals, and views of streets or intersections. Street trees must meet the minimum height clearance requirements of 8 feet above the surface of the sidewalk and 14 feet above the surface of the street;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040(A) makes private property owners responsible for maintaining the street trees and vegetation in the public place abutting their lot to the Street Tree Manual's standards, for pruning so trees don't obstruct street lights, traffic signs or signals, or views of streets and intersections, and for meeting the minimum height clearance of 8 feet above the sidewalk surface and 14 feet above the street surface. Owners must also remove or relocate improperly planted street trees when SDOT asks, and abate 'nuisance' trees the Director flags as hazardous or diseased.
040(B) lets the Director perform the work and bill the owner for the cost plus a 15 percent administrative surcharge. Owners are also liable for any damage street tree roots cause to sewers, storm drains, sidewalks, or pavement. 050, with major work supervised by an ISA-certified arborist or tree worker. 020 separately bars topping, severe crown reduction, or attaching objects to a street tree outside a permitted removal. 060.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep the 8-foot sidewalk / 14-foot street clearance, or performing major pruning, removal, or planting without a Street Use permit, exposes an owner or an unregistered Tree Service Provider to citation under Chapter 15.91 and a civil penalty up to $500 per day under SMC 15.90.018(A), with an added $1,000-per-day peak-period enhancement. Killing or mutilating a street tree can carry a penalty equal to its appraised value, trebled if willful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must a Seattle street tree be pruned over the sidewalk?
Do I need a permit to prune my street tree in Seattle?
What happens if I don't maintain the street tree clearance?
Can I hire anyone to prune a Seattle street tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle tree trimming.