Salem, OR Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Salem folds parkway and street tree planting into its trees-on-City-property chapter, SRC chapter 86, rather than a stand-alone landscaping code. 065(c) makes tree planting mandatory, not optional, for development: every property owner whose property abuts a street must plant City trees conforming to chapter 86 as a condition of final occupancy for any building constructed on the property. The application for tree planting is due at the same time as the building permit application, and City staff verify at final inspection that the required trees are actually in the ground before occupancy is granted.

If an owner would rather not plant, subsection (c) allows an opt-out: pay a fee, set by Council resolution, and the City installs the required trees itself. Beyond the mandatory development duty, subsection (b) covers anyone who wants to plant trees on City property more generally, including parkway strips, outside the building-permit context: that person must file a permit application, and the Director investigates the proposed location and may grant the permit only if it will allow for the normal growth and development of the tree.

An approved permit specifies the location, variety, and grade of each tree along with the planting method, and is valid for only 180 days from issuance, so approved plantings must be completed promptly. Subsection (d) transfers ownership: once a planted tree on City property passes final inspection, it becomes City property and falls under the Director's jurisdiction for future care, removal, and pruning decisions under the rest of chapter 86. 120(c), backs the planting rules along with every other chapter 86 duty, exposing a violator to a penalty of up to $2,000 per violation.