Tree Removal Permit in Sammamish, WA
Permit Summary
Do You Need a Tree Removal Permit?
Exemptions
Removal of a nonsignificant tree generally does not require a standalone Tree Removal Permit, provided no other clearing, critical-area, right-of-way or development restriction applies. Under SMC 21.03.060.E, emergency removal necessary to remedy imminent danger is exempt from advance tree approval but must be documented to the City within 21 days. The tree chapter also exempts removal within public easements and public rights-of-way from its own approval requirement; the City's separate ROW permit rules still apply to street-tree work. Certain state-authorized commercial forest practices are exempt from City tree approval but carry land-use restrictions.
Protected Trees & Removal Eligibility
Protected Tree Rules
SMC 21.04.040 defines a significant tree as a healthy noninvasive conifer of at least 8 inches DBH or deciduous tree of at least 12 inches DBH, including heritage and landmark trees. Heritage trees (at least 22 inches DBH) and landmark trees (at least 32 inches DBH) receive higher replacement obligations and preservation incentives. Trees designated for permanent protection on approved development plans or in protected open-space/critical-area tracts are subject to additional restrictions and ordinarily may not be removed unless determined hazardous. Topping and excessive pruning of protected trees are restricted.
When Removal Is Allowed
For lots zoned R-1, R-4 or R-6 under the code's specified zoning baseline, normal allowable significant-tree removal is capped at the lowest of the applicable percentage over a rolling 10 years, annual count and 10-year cumulative count: under 1/4 acre, 50%, 2/year, 6/10 years; 1/4–1/2 acre, 40%, 4/year, 12/10 years; 1/2–1 acre, 30%, 6/year, 18/10 years; 1–2 acres, 20%, 8/year, 24/10 years; over 2 acres, 10%, 10/year, 30/10 years. For R-8, R-12, R-18, O, NB and CB lots covered by the code, the ordinary limit is four significant trees per year and eight per five years. Director-approved exceptions for specified thinning, landscaping, accessory construction or utility reasons may allow additional removals; exceeding the R-1/R-4/R-6 limits requires double replacement.
Replacement Requirements
Replacement Rules
For significant trees lawfully removed under SMC 21.03.060.F or G, plant one replacement tree per significant tree, two per heritage tree, and three per landmark tree. New conifers must normally be at least 8 feet tall; deciduous replacement trees at least 2.5 inches DBH. Use primarily Washington-native species. Replacement is normally on site; the director may consider approved off-site planting or forest-landscape restoration when full on-site replacement is infeasible. Special retention/development circumstances can double replacement obligations; financial guarantees and arboricultural planting standards may apply. Emergency removals and other nonstandard paths require separate review of applicable restoration conditions.
Arborist & Professional Requirements
Professional Requirements
An unhealthy-tree request normally includes a report from an ISA-qualified professional arborist; a clearly dead tree may instead be documented with a photograph. Hazardous-tree requests require an evaluation and ISA Basic Tree Risk Assessment Form from a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) arborist; an additional arborist report may be requested. The City may obtain peer review by its contract arborist at the applicant's expense. An ISA arborist assessment is also normally expected for street-tree removal, with an exception in the City's guide for visibly dead trees. For development, the City may require a certified-arborist tree-protection plan, evaluation or post-construction assessment.
Public Notice Requirements
Notice Rules
The City's ordinary stand-alone Tree Removal Permit instructions do not specify neighbor mailing or public-site posting. If removal is part of a Type 2, 3 or 4 land-use action, SMC 21.09.010.H requires public notice of that underlying application, generally including site posting, mailed notice and web publication, with an application comment period of at least 21 days. Posted construction notices may also apply to approved subdivision or site-development work; those are not universal requirements for an isolated tree-removal permit.
Emergency Tree Removal
SMC 21.03.060.E exempts removal necessary to remedy an imminent danger from advance tree approval, but requires documentation of the removal to the City within 21 days. The 2026 application directs an owner who already removed a tree during a serious immediate emergency to submit the tree-removal form with clear photographs showing the threat; no fee is charged for a qualifying imminent-threat review. The City assesses whether the event qualified. If it did not, a retroactive permit and/or code enforcement may follow. Hazardous or unhealthy trees that do not present imminent danger follow the ordinary pre-removal review process.
Development & Special Areas
Development-Related Rules
Where development is proposed or anticipated, Sammamish requires issuance of the construction permit before land clearing; significant-tree removal may be considered with the associated development approval rather than a stand-alone tree permit. New primary residences and Type 2–4 development proposals must meet tree-retention standards. Among the code's specified residential zones, R-1 generally retains at least 50% of significant trees on unconstrained land, R-4/R-6 at least 35%, and R-8/R-12/R-18 at least 25%; some mapped sensitive areas require 50% regardless of zoning. Development plans must identify protected trees and provide tree-protection fencing at least 5 feet beyond the drip line before land disturbance. Qualified arborist plans or monitoring may be required; some commercial zones have extra replacement requirements.
Special Zone Rules
Significant trees and other vegetation in environmentally critical areas and buffers are generally retained under SMC 21.03.020, and removal/clearing there may need additional permits or review. Previously protected trees in open-space or critical-area tracts ordinarily cannot be removed unless hazardous. Certain mapped erosion-hazard areas, areas draining to designated sensitive waters, and the Pine Lake and Beaver Lake drainage subbasins have a 50% significant-tree retention rule on unconstrained land for development. Street trees are governed by the separate Type B ROW permit, including replacement and work-zone conditions. An actual imminent-danger removal within a critical area may proceed under the emergency exception, with documentation and any applicable site-restoration requirements.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Determine whether the tree is significant by species, health and diameter at breast height (DBH); verify the property's zoning, critical-area constraints, lot size and prior tree removals. Obtain City approval before removing a regulated tree, supply the signed application and site plan through MyBuildingPermit, and follow required replacement planting and tree-protection conditions. Removal of a tree within the street right-of-way follows the Type B ROW permit process. If construction is proposed or anticipated, do not clear trees before the required construction permit is issued.
Required Documents
For a standard tree-removal application: completed, signed City application; property address and parcel number; owner/applicant contact information; lot size; existing significant-tree inventory and removals during the preceding rolling 10 years; tree types/DBH and quantities; and a PDF site plan locating proposed removals. Unhealthy trees generally need an ISA-qualified arborist report, although a clearly dead tree may be documented with a PDF photograph. Hazardous-tree applications require an ISA TRAQ-qualified arborist's Basic Tree Risk Assessment and may also require an arborist report. An imminent-threat after-the-fact submittal needs clear photographic evidence. For a street tree, provide an explanation, site/replanting plan, planting detail, arborist assessment as applicable, and traffic-control plan if occupying the ROW.