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

070). To nominate one, a person submits a written request to the public works department with the landowner's signed consent, a site map, the tree's species and size, and a narrative explaining the request. No tree on private property may be designated without the owner's consent, and none on city property without the mayor's consent. The city then commissions an arborist's report evaluating the tree's health, root space, longevity, and suitability for long-term retention, and staff present the full record, application, report, and any additional findings, to the parks and recreation board, which holds a public hearing before voting on adoption.

Once adopted, the city places a plaque at the tree and files a notice in the Snohomish County auditor's land records binding all successors, heirs, and assigns. The property owner must maintain the tree to the best of their ability, and the city maintains heritage trees on city land or public rights-of-way. If a heritage tree becomes hazardous, an arborist's report again governs the recommended course of action, subject to city approval, and the mayor may waive the section's provisions to alleviate immediate hazards after a natural disaster. 15 tree rules, including replacement fees, then apply again.