Portland City Code Title 11 protects all trees on private property 12+ inch DBH (development sites) or 20+ inch DBH (non-development). The Heritage Tree Program separately designates specimens of exceptional value. Removal requires an Urban Forestry permit, replacement planting, and may require a public hearing for Heritage Trees.
Portland City Code Title 11, administered by Urban Forestry within Portland Parks and Recreation, governs all trees in the city. On non-development sites (a homeowner not building anything), any tree 20 inches DBH or larger requires a tree-removal permit. On development sites – any property with an active building, demolition, or land-use permit – the threshold drops to 12 inches DBH and all preserved trees must be shown on a tree preservation plan. Replacement is required at 1, 2, or 3 trees depending on size of the removed tree, or an in-lieu fee starting around $300 per caliper inch into the Tree Planting Fund. The separate Heritage Tree Program designates specimens by City Council resolution; removing a Heritage Tree requires public hearing and supermajority Council approval.
Removing a regulated tree without a permit is a violation of Title 11 carrying civil penalties up to $1,500 per tree plus mandatory replacement or fee in lieu. Heritage Tree removal without authorization is a Class A civil violation with fines up to $5,000 per tree and possible criminal misdemeanor referral. Repeat violators face revocation of related building permits.
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See how Portland's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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