Yakima, WA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Small tree curb distance
- 2 feet minimum
- Medium tree curb distance
- 3 feet minimum
- Large tree curb distance
- 4 feet minimum
- Corner clearance
- 35 feet minimum
- Fire hydrant clearance
- 10 feet minimum
Summary
Yakima sets exact planting rules for street trees in the curb parkway strip: minimum spacing by tree size and minimum distance from curbs, sidewalks, corners, and fire hydrants.
The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curb lines and sidewalks will be in accordance with the three species size classes identified by the list of approved street trees: small, medium, and large, and no trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, two feet; medium trees, three feet; and large trees, four feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4980636; v1 updated 2026-08-03; through 08-03-2026).
Full Breakdown
Yakima Municipal Code § 8.77.100 sets minimum planting distance from curbs and sidewalks by species size class: two feet for small trees, three feet for medium trees, and four feet for large trees. Companion sections set minimum spacing between street trees, 30/40/50 feet for small/medium/large (§ 8.77.090), require 35 feet of clearance from street corners and 10 feet from fire hydrants (§ 8.77.110), and restrict species near utility lines (§ 8.77.120). Only species on the city's approved street tree list may be planted (§ 8.77.080).
Violations & Fines
Planting a street tree species not on the city's approved list, or violating the required curb, corner, hydrant, or utility clearances, requires written tree board permission and can be ordered corrected or removed by the director.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to the curb can I plant a street tree in Yakima?
Can I plant any tree species in the parking strip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima
Compare Yakima 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.