Portland Tree Code Title 11 and the Urban Forestry Division target equitable tree-canopy expansion, prioritizing East Portland and frontline neighborhoods with historically low canopy coverage and higher heat exposure.
Title 11 establishes one of the strongest tree-protection regimes in the United States, regulating removal, replacement, and street-tree planting citywide. The Urban Forest Action Plan and PCEF investments fund canopy growth in neighborhoods below the thirty-percent canopy goal, especially east of 82nd Avenue. Free tree giveaways through Friends of Trees and city programs, along with the Heritage Tree designation, support equitable forestry. Removal permits require two-for-one replacement under Title 11 standards, with payments-in-lieu funding planting in low-canopy zones.
Removing a regulated tree without a Title 11 permit triggers fines starting at hundreds of dollars per inch of trunk diameter, plus mandatory replacement at two-to-one or higher and possible criminal misdemeanor referral.
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See how Portland's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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