Hillsboro, OR Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed for
- Planting, removal, major pruning
- Who issues permit
- City Manager's office
- Utility exemption
- If under franchise agreement
- Removed tree
- Replace per City spread standard
Summary
Planting, removing, or replacing a tree in the Hillsboro right-of-way next to your property requires a City permit first, and a removed tree must be replaced to the size shown in the City's Design and Construction Standards.
Any person, other than authorized employees, agents or contractors of the City, must obtain a permit approved by the City Manager's office or designee prior to planting, removing or major pruning any tree located in the public right-of-way. The permit application shall be made before the intended activity. ... Replacing a removed tree(s) per the spread dimension shown in the Hillsboro Design and Construction Standards. The replacement tree(s) must be selected and planted in accordance with the provisions of the Hillsboro Design and Construction Standards and ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
HMC 9.18.090 requires anyone other than City staff or contractors to get a permit from the City Manager's office before planting, removing, or major-pruning a tree in the public right-of-way, with the application filed before the work begins. Utility companies are exempt if their tree work follows their franchise agreement or right-of-way license. Under HMC 9.18.080(B)(5), an owner who removes a right-of-way tree must replace it to the spread dimension set in the City's Design and Construction Standards, selecting and planting the replacement to those standards and the ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards. The Community Development Code adds separate preservation rules for mature right-of-way trees in the Orenco Townsite Conservation District.
Violations & Fines
Planting, removing, or major-pruning a right-of-way tree without a permit, or skipping the required replacement standard, is a Code violation subject to enforcement and a fine under HMC 1.08.010(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the parkway strip by my house in Hillsboro?
What if I have to remove a dying street tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsboro
Compare Hillsboro to another location·View the Oregon tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle parkway planting.