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Home My WebLink AboutTree Cutting and Land Clearing HandoutreŶtoŶǁa.goǀ/perŵitceŶter | plaŶŶiŶgcustoŵerserǀice@reŶtoŶǁa.goǀ | ϰϮϱ-ϰϯϬ-7Ϯ9ϰ ϭϭ/7/ϮϬϮϮ Page ϭ of ϯ CITY OF RENTON Ι PERMIT CENTER REGULATIONS FOR TREE CUTTING AND LAND CLEARING This haŶdout addƌesses the ŵost ĐoŵŵoŶlǇ asked ƋuestioŶs aŶd pƌoǀides geŶeƌal iŶfoƌŵatioŶ ƌegaƌdiŶg tƌee ĐuttiŶg, ƌeŵoǀal, aŶd ǀegetatioŶ ŵaŶageŵeŶt. Please see RMC ϰ-ϰ-ϭϯϬ foƌ ŵoƌe detailed iŶfoƌŵatioŶ. DO I NEED A PERMIT TO CUT OR REMOVE TREES ON MY PROPERTY? A RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵit is ƌeƋuiƌed foƌ: •The ƌeŵoǀal of laŶdŵaƌk tƌees. A laŶdŵaƌk tƌee is defiŶed as a tƌee ǁith a Đalipeƌ of tǁeŶtǇ-fouƌ iŶĐhes ;Ϯϰ"Ϳ oƌ gƌeateƌ, eǆĐept foƌ Big Leaf Maples, BlaĐk CottoŶǁoods, aŶd Red Aldeƌ tƌees, ǁhiĐh ƋualifǇ as laŶdŵaƌk tƌees ǁith a Đalipeƌ of thiƌtǇ iŶĐhes ;ϯϬ"Ϳ oƌ gƌeateƌ. •The ƌeŵoǀal of ŵoƌe thaŶ tǁo ;ϮͿ sigŶifiĐaŶt tƌees ǁithiŶ a ĐaleŶdaƌ Ǉeaƌ. A sigŶifiĐaŶt tƌee is defiŶed as a tƌee ǁith a Đalipeƌ of at least siǆ iŶĐhes ;ϲ"Ϳ, eǆĐept aldeƌ oƌ ĐottoŶǁood tƌees, ǁhiĐh ƋualifǇ as sigŶifiĐaŶt tƌees ǁith a Đalipeƌ of eight iŶĐhes ;8"Ϳ oƌ gƌeateƌ. •ReŵoǀiŶg/TƌiŵŵiŶg tƌees, ŵoǁiŶg/ĐuttiŶg of gƌouŶd Đoǀeƌ, oƌ aŶǇ ǀegetatioŶ ŵaŶageŵeŶt oŶ a ǀaĐaŶt pƌopeƌtǇ. LANDMARK TREE REMOVAL REQUIREMENTS Reŵoǀal of a laŶdŵaƌk tƌee ŵust ĐoŵplǇ ǁith speĐifiĐ Đƌiteƌia that is eǀaluated thƌough a RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵit. LaŶdŵaƌk tƌee ƌeŵoǀal ŵaǇ ďe gƌaŶted foƌ situatioŶs ǁheƌe: •The tƌee is deteƌŵiŶed to ďe a high-ƌisk tƌee; oƌ •The tƌee is ĐausiŶg oďǀious phǇsiĐal daŵage to ďuildiŶgs ;oǀeƌ tǁo huŶdƌed ;ϮϬϬͿ sƋuaƌe feetͿ, dƌiǀeǁaǇs, paƌkiŶg lots, oƌ utilities, aŶd it ĐaŶ ďe deŵoŶstƌated to the AdŵiŶistƌatoƌ’s satisfaĐtioŶ that Ŷo ƌeasoŶaďle alteƌŶatiǀes to tƌee ƌeŵoǀal eǆists, iŶĐludiŶg tƌee ƌoot pƌuŶiŶg, tƌee ƌoot ďaƌƌieƌs, tƌee ĐaďliŶg, oƌ pƌeǀeŶtiǀe ŵaiŶteŶaŶĐe, suĐh as ĐleaŶiŶg leaf deďƌis, deadǁood ƌeŵoǀal, oƌ diƌeĐtioŶal/ĐleaƌaŶĐe pƌuŶiŶg; oƌ •Reŵoǀal of tƌee;sͿ to pƌoǀide solaƌ aĐĐess to ďuildiŶgs iŶĐoƌpoƌatiŶg aĐtiǀe solaƌ deǀiĐes. WiŶdoǁs aƌe solaƌ deǀiĐes oŶlǇ ǁheŶ theǇ aƌe south-faĐiŶg aŶd iŶĐlude speĐial stoƌage eleŵeŶts to distƌiďute heat eŶeƌgǇ; oƌ •The AdŵiŶistƌatoƌ deteƌŵiŶes the ƌeŵoǀal is ŶeĐessaƌǇ to aĐhieǀe a speĐifiĐ aŶd aƌtiĐulaďle puƌpose oƌ goal of CitǇ Đode. PROHIBITED TREE CUTTING AND LAND CLEARING ACTIVITIES The folloǁiŶg tƌee ĐuttiŶg, ƌeŵoǀal, laŶd ĐleaƌiŶg, aŶd gƌouŶd Đoǀeƌ ŵaŶageŵeŶt aĐtiǀities aƌe pƌohiďited: •CuttiŶg oƌ ƌeŵoǀal of LaŶdŵaƌk Tƌees ǁithout a RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵit. •Reŵoǀal of aŶǇ tƌees oƌ laŶdsĐapiŶg ƌeƋuiƌed to ďe ƌetaiŶed as paƌt of a ͞LaŶd DeǀelopŵeŶt Peƌŵit.͟ •Tƌee ĐuttiŶg, ƌeŵoǀal, oƌ laŶd ĐleaƌiŶg oŶ aŶǇ site foƌ the sake of pƌepaƌiŶg that site foƌ futuƌe deǀelopŵeŶt uŶless a laŶd deǀelopŵeŶt peƌŵit foƌ the site has ďeeŶ appƌoǀed ďǇ the CitǇ. •Tƌee ĐuttiŶg, ƌeŵoǀal, laŶd ĐleaƌiŶg, oƌ gƌouŶdĐoǀeƌ ŵaŶageŵeŶt ǁithiŶ ĐƌitiĐal aƌeas, ĐƌitiĐal aƌea ďuffeƌs, oƌ shoƌeliŶes of the state, ǁithout pƌioƌ ǁƌitteŶ authoƌizatioŶ ďǇ the CitǇ. •Tƌee toppiŶg uŶless the tƌee has ďeeŶ appƌoǀed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal. •Reŵoǀal of tƌees ďeǇoŶd the ŵaǆiŵuŵs alloǁed ǁithout aŶ appƌoǀed RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵit. reŶtoŶǁa.goǀ/perŵitceŶter | plaŶŶiŶgcustoŵerserǀice@reŶtoŶǁa.goǀ | ϰϮϱ-ϰϯϬ-7Ϯ9ϰ ϭϭ/7/ϮϬϮϮ Page Ϯ of ϯ TREE CUTTING AND LAND CLEARING HANDOUT WHEN IS A ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT NOT REQUIRED? EǆĐept foƌ tƌee ƌeŵoǀal oƌ ǀegetatioŶ ŵaŶageŵeŶt ǁithiŶ shoƌeliŶes of the state, ĐƌitiĐal aƌeas, oƌ ĐƌitiĐal aƌea ďuffeƌs, a RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵit is Ŷot ƌeƋuiƌed foƌ the folloǁiŶg aĐtiǀities: • Reŵoǀal of a ŵaǆiŵuŵ of thƌee ;ϯͿ high-ƌisk tƌees ǁithiŶ a oŶe ;ϭͿ-Ǉeaƌ peƌiod, pƌoǀided Ŷo laŶdŵaƌk tƌees aƌe pƌoposed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal. • Reŵoǀal of up to tǁo ;ϮͿ sigŶifiĐaŶt tƌees ǁithiŶ a oŶe-Ǉeaƌ peƌiod, ďut Ŷo ŵoƌe thaŶ fiǀe ;ϱͿ sigŶifiĐaŶt tƌees ǁithiŶ a fiǀe-Ǉeaƌ peƌiod, pƌoǀided the ƌeŵoǀal is ĐoŶduĐted iŶ aĐĐoƌdaŶĐe ǁith the folloǁiŶg ƌeƋuiƌeŵeŶts:  Theƌe is Ŷo aĐtiǀe laŶd deǀelopŵeŶt peƌŵit oƌ appliĐatioŶ foƌ the suďjeĐt site;  The tƌee pƌoposed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal is Ŷot a pƌoteĐted tƌee oƌ a laŶdŵaƌk tƌee;  The tƌee pƌoposed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal is Ŷot loĐated ǁithiŶ ϭϬ feet ;ϭϬ’Ϳ of a suƌfaĐe paƌkiŶg lot ǁith teŶ ;ϭϬͿ oƌ ŵoƌe paƌkiŶg spaĐes;  The tƌee pƌoposed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal is Ŷot oŶe of the oŶlǇ tǁo ;ϮͿ sigŶifiĐaŶt tƌees ƌeŵaiŶiŶg oŶ the lot, uŶless ideŶtified as a high-ƌisk tƌee; aŶd  IŶ ĐoŶduĐtiŶg ŵiŶoƌ tƌee ƌeŵoǀal aĐtiǀities, ƌights-of-ǁaǇs shall ƌeŵaiŶ uŶoďstƌuĐted uŶless a ƌight-of-ǁaǇ use peƌŵit is oďtaiŶed. • LaŶd ĐleaƌiŶg iŶ ĐoŶfoƌŵaŶĐe ǁith the aďoǀe ƌestƌiĐtioŶs is peƌŵitted foƌ puƌposes of laŶdsĐapiŶg ;i.e. iŶstallatioŶ of laǁŶs, tƌees, shƌuďs, floǁeƌs, aŶd gƌouŶd ĐoǀeƌͿ. TREE REMOVAL AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WITHIN CRITICAL AREAS Tƌee ĐuttiŶg, tƌee ƌeŵoǀal, laŶd ĐleaƌiŶg, oƌ gƌouŶdĐoǀeƌ ŵaŶageŵeŶt is Ŷot peƌŵitted: • OŶ poƌtioŶs of pƌopeƌtǇ ǁith pƌoteĐted ĐƌitiĐal haďitats, stƌeaŵs aŶd lakes, shoƌeliŶes of the state, ǁetlaŶds, aŶd theiƌ assoĐiated ďuffeƌs; oƌ • OŶ pƌoteĐted slopes ;ϰϬ% oƌ ŵoƌeͿ; oƌ • IŶ aƌeas Đlassified as ǀeƌǇ high laŶdslide hazaƌds; oƌ • IŶ ͞Natiǀe Gƌoǁth PƌoteĐtioŶ EaseŵeŶts,͟ aƌeas, oƌ tƌaĐts. • Appƌoǀal ŵaǇ ďe gƌaŶted ǁheŶ tƌees pƌoposed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal aƌe ideŶtified as high-ƌisk ;see aďoǀeͿ. The CitǇ ŵust authoƌize the ƌeŵoǀal oƌ pƌuŶiŶg of high-ƌisk tƌees ǁithiŶ ĐƌitiĐal aƌeas, ĐƌitiĐal aƌea ďuffeƌs, oƌ shoƌeliŶes of the state, pƌioƌ to the ƌeŵoǀal oƌ pƌuŶiŶg. HIGH-RISK TREE REQUIREMENTS A tƌee ideŶtified as high-ƌisk ŵust ďe Đeƌtified iŶ a ǁƌitteŶ aƌďoƌist ƌepoƌt, pƌepaƌed ďǇ aŶ aƌďoƌist ǁith aŶ IŶteƌŶatioŶal SoĐietǇ of AƌďoƌiĐultuƌe ;ISAͿ Tƌee Risk AssessŵeŶt QualifiĐatioŶ ;TRAQͿ, as possessiŶg the folloǁiŶg ISA Tƌee Risk AssessŵeŶt ĐhaƌaĐteƌizatioŶs: • The tƌee has a pƌoďaďle oƌ iŵŵiŶeŶt likelihood of failuƌe; aŶd • The tƌee has a ŵediuŵ oƌ high likelihood of iŵpaĐt; aŶd • The ĐoŶseƋueŶĐes of failuƌe foƌ the tƌee aƌe sigŶifiĐaŶt oƌ seǀeƌe. REQUIREMENTS FOR ARBORIST REPORTS AŶ aƌďoƌist ƌepoƌt is ƌeƋuiƌed foƌ RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵit appliĐatioŶs. The aƌďoƌist ƌepoƌt ŵust ďe pƌepaƌed ďǇ aŶ ISA Đeƌtified aƌďoƌist oƌ ASCA Đeƌtified ĐoŶsultaŶt aŶd iŶĐlude the folloǁiŶg: • The pƌojeĐt loĐatioŶ, desĐƌiptioŶ of pƌoposed deǀelopŵeŶt, aŶd desĐƌiptioŶ of pƌoposed tƌee ƌeŵoǀal; aŶd reŶtoŶǁa.goǀ/perŵitceŶter | plaŶŶiŶgcustoŵerserǀice@reŶtoŶǁa.goǀ | ϰϮϱ-ϰϯϬ-7Ϯ9ϰ ϭϭ/7/ϮϬϮϮ Page ϯ of ϯ TREE CUTTING AND LAND CLEARING HANDOUT • A ĐoŶĐeptual tƌee ƌeŵoǀal aŶd ƌeteŶtioŶ plaŶ; aŶd • AŶ iŶǀeŶtoƌǇ of all tƌees oŶ-site to ďe ƌetaiŶed aŶd ƌeŵoǀed, ǁith details ƌegaƌdiŶg tƌee speĐies, size, health, pƌoposed ƌeasoŶs foƌ aŶǇ ƌeŵoǀal, aŶd the tƌee Đƌedit ǀalue foƌ eaĐh tƌee puƌsuaŶt to the taďle shoǁŶ iŶ RMC ϰ-ϰ- ϭϯϬ.H.ϭ.ď, Tƌee Cƌedit ReƋuiƌeŵeŶts; aŶd • IŶ Đases ǁheƌe high-ƌisk tƌees aƌe pƌoposed foƌ ƌeŵoǀal, the ƌepoƌt shall ďe pƌepaƌed ďǇ aŶ aƌďoƌist ǁith ISA Tƌee Risk AssessŵeŶt QualifiĐatioŶ ;TRAQͿ aŶd iŶĐlude aŶ ISA Tƌee Risk AssessŵeŶt staŶdaƌd foƌŵ fullǇ Đoŵpleted. ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS Suďŵittal ƌeƋuiƌeŵeŶts aƌe aǀailaďle thƌough the CitǇ’s ͞Suďŵittal ReƋuiƌeŵeŶts͟ ǁeďpage oƌ fƌoŵ the PlaŶŶiŶg DiǀisioŶ. You ŵust suďŵit a Đoŵplete appliĐatioŶ paĐkage, iŶĐludiŶg the pƌoĐessiŶg fee ;see the CitǇ of ReŶtoŶ Fee SĐheduleͿ. OŶĐe a Đoŵplete appliĐatioŶ is ƌeĐeiǀed ďǇ Staff, the appliĐatioŶ ǁill ďe ƌeǀieǁed adŵiŶistƌatiǀelǇ ǁithiŶ aŶ estiŵated tiŵefƌaŵe of Ϯ-ϯ ǁeeks. Appƌoǀed RoutiŶe VegetatioŶ MaŶageŵeŶt Peƌŵits aƌe ǀalid foƌ oŶe Ǉeaƌ. CITY-OWNED TREES, STREET TREES, TREES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY PeƌŵissioŶ fƌoŵ the CitǇ Foƌesteƌ aŶd/oƌ AdŵiŶistƌatoƌ ŵust ďe oďtaiŶed foƌ the plaŶtiŶg, ƌeŵoǀal, oƌ pƌuŶiŶg of CitǇ- oǁŶed tƌees, stƌeet tƌees, aŶd tƌees ǁithiŶ the puďliĐ stƌeet ƌight-of-ǁaǇ. Tƌee ƌeŵoǀal ŵaǇ ďe authoƌized if the tƌee eǆhiďits a ƌisk to puďliĐ safetǇ. IŶ oƌdeƌ to ƌeŵoǀe a stƌeet tƌee, the aďuttiŶg pƌopeƌtǇ ŵust pƌoǀide pƌoof of iŶsuƌaŶĐe Đoǀeƌage, a tƌaffiĐ ĐoŶtƌol plaŶ, aŶd oďtaiŶ a ƌight-of-ǁaǇ use peƌŵit. As a ĐoŶditioŶ of ƌeŵoǀal, ƌeplaĐeŵeŶt stƌeet tƌees ŵaǇ ďe ƌeƋuiƌed. See the ͞UƌďaŶ aŶd CoŵŵuŶitǇ FoƌestƌǇ͟ ǁeďpage foƌ additioŶal iŶfoƌŵatioŶ aďout puďliĐ tƌees aŶd foƌ geŶeƌal ƌesouƌĐes ƌegaƌdiŶg tƌees. TREE REMOVAL ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR SHARED PROPERTY LINES PeƌŵissioŶ fƌoŵ pƌopeƌtǇ oǁŶeƌs ŵust ďe oďtaiŶed ďefoƌe ƌeŵoǀiŶg oƌ pƌuŶiŶg tƌees oŶ pƌiǀate pƌopeƌtǇ that Ǉou do Ŷot oǁŶ. Wheƌe tƌees gƌoǁ oŶ tǁo pƌopeƌties, ďoth oǁŶeƌs ŵust agƌee to the ƌeŵoǀal. You ŵaǇ pƌuŶe tƌees up to Ǉouƌ pƌopeƌtǇ liŶe pƌoǀided the ǁoƌk does Ŷot adǀeƌselǇ iŵpaĐt the tƌee aŶd the pƌuŶiŶg does Ŷot eǆĐeed ŵoƌe thaŶ foƌtǇ peƌĐeŶt ;ϰϬ%Ϳ of the tƌee ĐaŶopǇ. TREES WITHIN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS ;HOAͿ Tƌee ƌeŵoǀal oƌ ŵaiŶteŶaŶĐe foƌ tƌees oǁŶed ďǇ HoŵeoǁŶeƌs AssoĐiatioŶs ;HOAsͿ ŵust ĐoŵplǇ ǁith CitǇ of ReŶtoŶ ƌegulatioŶs ƌegaƌdiŶg tƌee ƌeŵoǀal aŶd pƌuŶiŶg ;see aďoǀeͿ. Youƌ pƌopeƌtǇ ŵaǇ ďe suďjeĐt to HOA ƌules ƌegaƌdiŶg tƌee ƌeŵoǀal. CheĐk ǁith the HOA ďefoƌe ƌeŵoǀiŶg oƌ pƌuŶiŶg tƌees.