Marysville, WA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum caliper at planting
- 1.5 inches (ANSI standard)
- Planting strip width
- 5 ft, or 5x5 ft tree grate pit
- Canopy goal
- Continuous coverage within 10 years
- Height cap under power lines
- 25 ft mature height
- Clear view zone
- 3 to 8 ft off the ground
- Alternative to planting
- Pay city tree fund, market value + labor
- Maintenance duty
- Adjacent property owner
Summary
Marysville requires street trees along every city street and access easement on new development, planted at a minimum 1.5-inch caliper in a five-foot planting strip or tree pit between the curb and sidewalk. Developers who cannot plant them pay into the city's tree fund instead.
(2) Street Tree Implementation. (a) Street trees are required along all city streets and access easements. (b) Street trees shall be planted between the curb and the walking path of the sidewalk. Either five-foot by five-foot pits with tree grates or a continuous planting strip with ground cover that is at least five feet wide may be used. Where planting strips are not incorporated into the street design, street trees shall be located behind the sidewalk. ... (d) Street trees shall meet the most recent ANSI standards for a one-and-one-half-inch caliper tree at the time of planting and shall be spaced in order to provide a continuous canopy coverage within 10 years of planting.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4922912; v1 updated 2026-06-08; through 06-08-2026).
Full Breakdown
120's landscaping standards. Subsection (1) states the purpose is consistent street frontage character, maintaining Marysville's tree canopy and enhancing commercial and neighborhood appearance. 140(2)(b)). Species must come from the administrative landscaping guidelines maintained by the community development director, or be separately approved by that office (subsection (2)(c)). Trees must meet the most recent ANSI standard for a one-and-one-half-inch caliper tree at planting and be spaced to reach continuous canopy coverage within 10 years (subsection (2)(d)). Placement has to account for existing utilities, lighting and signage (subsection (2)(e)); where overhead power lines run above, trees are capped at a mature height of 25 feet to avoid conflicts with utility crews (subsection (2)(f)); new plantings on a street with a uniform or distinctive existing planting pattern must match that species and pattern (subsection (2)(g)); and the strip between curb and sidewalk must keep a clear view zone between three and eight feet off the ground (subsection (2)(h)).
Under subsection (3), if the community development director finds planting infeasible or undesirable, the applicant instead pays the city tree fund the current market value of the trees plus installation labor, and the city uses that fund to acquire, maintain, preserve and plant trees citywide. Subsection (4) puts ongoing maintenance and irrigation on the adjacent property owner unless the community development department approves otherwise.
Violations & Fines
The section itself carries no listed fine; a project that will not or cannot plant required street trees must pay the in-lieu tree fund contribution under § 22C.120.140(3), calculated at current market value plus installation labor, rather than being excused from the requirement outright. Ongoing upkeep is a standing property-owner duty under subsection (4): an adjacent owner who lets required street trees or landscaping die or go unmaintained is out of compliance with the section unless the community development department has approved a different maintenance arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every new development in Marysville have to plant street trees?
Can I avoid planting street trees on my project?
Who has to maintain street trees after they're planted?
Are there height limits on street trees near power lines?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marysville
Compare Marysville to another location·View the Washington tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle parkway planting.