Edmonds, WA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

130 ECDC, protects "significant trees," defined as any tree at least six inches in diameter measured four and one-half feet above the ground. Within that broader category, a "specimen tree" is one of exceptional size or form for its species, or of unusual rarity, as determined by the city's qualified professional (an ISA-certified arborist or equivalent credentialed reviewer). 060 requires an applicant to submit a tree retention and protection plan and retain a set share of significant trees on site: 30 percent for new single-family development, short subdivisions and subdivisions, and 25 percent for multifamily development and unit lot subdivisions.

Which trees get saved is not left to chance: the code sets a strict priority order, and specimen trees rank first, ahead of trees forming a continuous canopy, trees on slopes steeper than 15 percent, trees adjacent to critical areas, and any tree over 60 feet tall or more than 18 inches in diameter. An applicant can only remove a higher-priority tree like a specimen tree if it can show that retaining it would make the proposed development infeasible, and even then the tree retention and protection plan must document the health, condition and reason for removal in an arborist report.

There is no city process to designate an individual tree a permanent "heritage" landmark outside the context of a development review; specimen status is applied case by case by the qualified professional reviewing a specific project.