Portland Tree Removal Permits

You need a permit to cut down or remove some types of trees in Portland. For trees on private property,  if the tree is more than 12 inches in diameter and 4.5 feet tall or larger, you need to pay a fee, and you can only remove 4 trees per year. You do not need a permit if the tree is 11 inches or less in diameter (measure the tree around the middle and divide by 3.14).

Removing a street tree requires a permit, as does any activity that may harm that tree, as well as planting a street tree. Portland also requires pruning permits for street trees specifically.

City of Portland Tree Permit Information

If you want to remove a tree from the street in front of your house, you have to pay a fee and get a permit first. This goes for houses, apartments, and businesses. The City of Beaverton has an annual schedule of trimming street trees. 

You can learn about the permitting process and more on the City of Beaverton’s website at the Beaverton Urban Forestry Division

The City of Gresham has several factors when it comes to removing a tree in the area. We can help you navigate their process. 

The City of Gresham doesn’t require a permit if:

• The tree is less than 6 inches in diameter, measured at 4.5 feet in height
• Trees 6-8 inches in diameter that are outside sensitive areas (defined as floodplain, hillside, geologic risk, and natural resource)
• A tree is fully collapsed or uprooted in a storm or other hazard event

A tree is considered to be regulated if it’s 8” DBH (diameter at breast height or 4.5ft from the ground).  You must get a tree removal exemption for the removal of these types of trees on your property.

• You can remove up to 3 trees per year if your property is no more than 35,000 square feet. 
• If your property is more than 35,000 square feet, you can remove up to 6 trees per year. 

Types of Permits:

• Tree Removal Exemption
• Type I
• Type II - Removal of more than three or six regulated trees
• Type III - Removal of a significant tree; hearings; official decision based on criteria in Section 9.1000 of the Development Code.

Learn more about the permit and removal process at City of Gresham Trees

If you want to remove a tree and the tree's trunk is wider than 6 inches, you need to get a permit first. The type of permit you need depends on where the tree is located.

Type A Permits are for trees located on private property (not a street tree on an easement). Trees must not fall under a protected condition, with a maximum of three trees being removed.

Type B Permits are for removal of trees in environmentally sensitive areas, trees associated with conditions of approval such as an HOA, and for removal of a tree in the right-of-way or in a planter strip.

Learn more about Happy Valley's tree cutting ordinance.

A permit is required to remove a tree with a trunk that is 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater.

Dead and hazardous trees can be removed with a type 1 permit and fee. 

Type 2 removal requires an application process, a public notice, and in some cases a notice to the neighborhood association.

Lake Oswego Tree Code

There are six types of trees that you need a permit to remove in Tigard: 

• street trees
• median trees
• sensitive lands trees
• urban forestry fund trees
• heritage trees
• development-required trees

Residents living in Tigard may remove a tree without a permit unless one of these types of trees is involved.

City of Tigard

The City of Tualatin allows removal of up to 4 trees every year without a permit. 

However, you need a permit to remove trees that are Heritage Trees, in a wetland, or in a CWS wetland buffer. 

A homeowner wishing to remove more than four (4) trees must submit a single-family tree removal permit.

Tualatin Tree Removal

Vancouver has separate processes for private trees vs. street trees.

For private trees, per VMC 20.770, a permit is required for removal. The type of permit varies based on the reason for removal.

For street trees, a permit is required for planting, major pruning, and removal of street trees.

Vancouver Urban Forestry Division

Vancouver WA Tree Permit Information

The City of West Linn requires a permit to remove any tree in the city limits. 

You can visit the Parks and Recreation website to download the permit application and find out which trees need a permit.

West Linn Tree Removal Permits 

Any tree in the city measuring six inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH), at 4.5 feet above grade, requires a permit prior to cutting it down. 

Smaller trees may require approval if they are street trees or other required landscape trees.

City of Wilsonville

City of Wilsonville Tree Manual