Bothell, WA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

BMC 12.18.050 defines street right-of-way landscaping as planting between the curb and sidewalk, in planter strips, behind sidewalks, and in medians. Individual single-family and duplex residences are exempt from the sidewalk-to-front-property-line requirement in subsection B, though their landscape plans still address right-of-way planting under BMC 12.18.130(A).

Planter strip planting is tied to street classification. A local access street gets one deciduous tree at an average spacing of 30 feet on center, selected from the list in BMC 12.18.140(G): non-columnar Red Maple, Norway Maple, Redmond Linden, Zelkova, English Oak, White Oak, Katsura tree, non-columnar European Hornbeam, or another tree approved by the community development director. Collector and arterial streets follow the Type IV standard, which calls for at least one deciduous tree for each 150 square feet of landscaped area at an average spacing of 30 feet on center. Boulevard streets are governed by BMC 12.18.060.

Frontage on the Bothell boulevard system requires Type IV landscaping in a five- to 10-foot-wide planter between the sidewalk and vehicle travel lanes, using the street tree named for each boulevard. For Bothell Way NE/Bothell-Everett Highway between NE 188th and I-405 the code names Red Oak and Summit Ash. Alternative species need a demonstrated match in speed of growth, form, size, leaf texture and root spread, and departures need community development director approval. Deciduous street trees must be at least two and one-half inches in diameter measured six inches above grade, with a clear trunk of at least eight feet where sight distance must be maintained. Where reduced landscaping is approved, street trees can be required in tree pits at least four feet by four feet. Medians and islands meet the Type IV standard and use the boulevard median tree list, and all right-of-way planting must meet the sight distance requirements in the city design and construction standards.