Lakewood, WA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

330 protects the Oregon white oak, also called the Garry oak, because the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife designates it a priority habitat species. 154 LMC, and priority white oak woodlands or oaks sitting in a critical area or buffer, including shoreline buffers under the Shoreline Master Program, are additionally subject to the critical areas ordinance and/or the SMP. 320. A permit for removal or topping may be granted at any diameter if the Director determines the oak is so diseased or damaged it endangers the public or adjacent property and trimming will not fix it; dead oaks should be left standing as wildlife snags wherever feasible.

For a healthy oak with an average DBH over 4 inches, removal is allowed only if the tree is not in a critical area (where the critical areas ordinance controls instead) and the applicant demonstrates there is no alternative siting for streets, utilities, or other on-site improvements; removal in that case still requires tree replacement at a 2:1 ratio. During construction, builders must fence off a critical root zone sized at 1 foot of radius for every inch of trunk diameter, post signage at least 12 by 12 inches warning workers away from the zone, avoid cutting any root over 4 inches in diameter even outside that zone, and keep the soil grade and composition around the root zone undisturbed.

Hard surfacing is barred within an oak's dripline except by administrative approval covering up to 25 percent of that area, and only with a tree protection plan from a certified arborist. Public agencies and franchised utilities must notify the City before pruning or removing oaks in a right-of-way or utility easement.