Seattle, WA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Permits and rules for planting in the parkway strip between sidewalk and curb, including approved species lists and Bureau of Street Services standards.
Research in progress
We are currently verifying Seattle's specific local ordinance for parkway planting. In the meantime,Washington state law generally applies, and below you'll find guidance for finding the official rules and links to related Seattle ordinances we've already verified.
Washington State Law Context
Washington state law provides the baseline framework for parkway planting across all municipalities in the state. Individual cities like Seattle may adopt additional local rules on top of state requirements, which is what makes checking your specific city ordinance important. For Seattle residents, the safest approach is to follow state law as a baseline and contact City Hall for any additional local requirements.
You can browse all Washington tree protection to see how cities across the state regulate this topic.
How to find official Seattle Parkway Planting rules
- Search for "Seattle WA municipal code" to find your city's online code portal (Municode, eCode360, or American Legal Publishing are the most common).
- Look for chapters covering tree protection, zoning, nuisance, or property maintenance — that's where most parkway planting rules live.
- Contact Seattle City Hall's code enforcement, planning, or community development department for clarification.
- Check with your HOA if applicable — many HOAs have stricter rules than the city itself.
Other tree protection verified for Seattle
We've verified the following tree protection for Seattle: