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

Under Renton Municipal Code 4-4-130, a landmark tree is any tree with a caliper of twenty-four inches or greater, except big leaf maples, black cottonwoods, and red alder, which must reach thirty inches caliper to qualify. Landmark trees rank as Priority One for retention, ahead of significant trees that form a continuous canopy. Section 4-4-130(D)(2)(c) makes it unlawful to remove a landmark tree from any property without a routine vegetation management permit or a land development permit. Section 4-4-130(F)(2)(c) sets the review criteria the Community and Economic Development Administrator applies before granting that permit: the tree must be certified high-risk by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification arborist, or be causing documented physical damage exceeding two hundred square feet to buildings, driveways, parking lots, or utilities with no feasible alternative such as root pruning or cabling, or its removal must be needed to provide solar access to a building with an active solar device, or the Administrator must find removal necessary to achieve a specific purpose of the tree retention title.

If the property's minimum tree credit requirement is not maintained after a landmark tree comes down, replacement trees are required under subsection H1b's credit table.