Renton, WA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Significant tree threshold
- 6" caliper (8" for alder/cottonwood)
- Minimum retention
- 30% of significant trees, active permit sites
- Tree credit rate
- 30 credits per net acre required
- Top credit value
- 13 credits for 37"+ caliper preserved tree
- Replacement window
- 3 months, or next planting season
- Governing section
- RMC 4-4-130(H)(1), Performance Standards
Summary
Renton's tree code protects any 'significant tree,' six inches caliper or larger (eight inches for alder and cottonwood), once a property holds an active land development permit. RMC 4-4-130(H)(1)(a) requires developers to retain at least 30% of all significant trees on site, backed by a tree-credit system favoring larger, higher-priority species.
1. Protected Trees: Trees required to be retained or planted pursuant to this subsection H1 are considered protected trees, as defined in RMC 4-11-200, Definitions T. Protected trees shall be retained or planted as follows: a. Minimum Tree Retention Requirements: Properties subject to an active land development permit shall retain a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of all significant trees on site.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6197, passed August 10, 2026).
Full Breakdown
RMC 4-11-200 defines a significant tree as any tree with a caliper of at least six inches, except alder or cottonwood, which must reach eight inches caliper to qualify; trees already certified as high-risk are excluded even if they meet the size threshold. Once a property holds an active land development permit, RMC 4-4-130(H)(1)(a) requires retention of a minimum of thirty percent of all significant trees on the site. 25 for a new small-species tree up to thirteen credits for a preserved tree of thirty-seven inches caliper or more.
When more retention is required than a site can support, subsection H1c sets a Priority One through lower-priority retention order, placing landmark trees and trees forming a continuous canopy ahead of isolated specimens; an applicant proposing to keep lower-priority trees instead must show in writing that retaining higher-priority trees was not feasible. Subsection H11c further requires that any protected tree removed or turned high-risk be replaced within three months, or the next planting season.
Violations & Fines
Removing or damaging a protected or retained tree without authorization is a separate civil violation for each tree under RMC 4-4-130(J)(1), enforced through RMC 1-10-7, Failure to Comply. The Administrator can levy a mitigation fee of up to $2,000 per tree, require replacement planting keyed to the tree's credit value, or accept a fee in lieu paid into the City's Urban Forestry Program fund, and can stop work on the parcel's permits until the site is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree 'protected' under Renton's code?
How many trees do I have to keep when I develop my lot?
What happens if a protected tree dies or has to come down after my permit is issued?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Renton
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle protected tree species.