Short answer: in Redmond, you need a city permit to remove any tree with a trunk 6 inches or more in diameter measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Bigger “landmark” trees, hazard trees, emergencies and trees in protected areas each have their own path. This guide from Redmond Summit Tree Service explains each one in plain English, with the city’s own numbers.
These are the current rules (RZC 21.72, originally adopted in 1998). Redmond is rewriting them, with City Council adoption expected in early 2027. See what’s changing. If you live in Redmond Ridge, Trilogy or Novelty Hill, you’re probably in unincorporated King County, and different rules apply.
Which Permit Do I Need?
| Your situation | What Redmond requires | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tree under 6” diameter | No tree removal permit | — |
| Significant tree (6”+ DBH), healthy | Tree Removal Permit, within yearly limits, 1 native replacement tree | Yes |
| Landmark tree (over 30” DBH) | Tree Exception Request with arborist report and/or photos, 3 replacement trees | Yes |
| More trees than your yearly limit | Tree Exception Request | Yes |
| Hazardous, dead, dying or diseased tree | Hazard Tree Declaration with a certified arborist’s tree health assessment (photos may be accepted if the tree is obviously dead) | No fee |
| Imminent threat to people or structures | Remove first; permit issued retroactively | — |
| 11 or more significant trees | Clear and Grade Permit (Development Engineering, 425-556-2876) | Yes |
| Tree in a critical area (wetland, stream, buffer, NGPA) | Can’t be removed unless hazardous; arborist mitigation; wood stays in the critical area | — |
| Protected tree on a plat / Tree Preservation Plan | Can’t be removed unless hazardous; Tree Exception Request | — |
| Removal for development (new house, ADU, short plat) | Tree preservation plan + arborist report with the building permit; retain 35% of significant trees | Yes |
How Many Trees Can I Remove per Year?
On developed single-family lots, the number of healthy significant trees you can remove each year depends on lot size:
| Lot size | Healthy significant trees per year |
|---|---|
| Up to 10,000 sq ft | Up to 2 |
| 10,001 – 20,000 sq ft | Up to 4 |
| 20,001 – 30,000 sq ft | Up to 6 |
| 30,001 sq ft or larger | Up to 8 |
Each one still needs a permit. Commercial, multifamily and industrial lots may remove no more than five significant trees per acre per year, for thinning a heavily wooded area (keeping its forested look) or maintaining landscaped areas.
How to Measure Your Tree (DBH)
DBH means “diameter at breast height,” measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Wrap a tape measure around the trunk at that height and divide the circumference by 3.14:
| Circumference at 4.5 ft | Diameter | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Under about 19” | Under 6” | Not regulated |
| About 19” – 94” | 6” – 30” | Significant tree |
| Over about 94” | Over 30” | Landmark tree |
For trees with several trunks, or on a slope, measure from the uphill side and ask the city how they want multi-stem trees counted.
Replacement Trees
- 1 replacement tree for each significant tree removed.
- 3 replacement trees for each landmark tree removed (with exception approval).
- Replacements must be primarily native to the Pacific Northwest. The city publishes a Recommended Native Plant List.
How to Apply (Step by Step)
- Research your property with the city’s Property Search Tool: lot size, critical areas, plat notes. An aerial image can be submitted with your application.
- Request a Plan Review Online (PRO) permit. For “Type of Project” select Land Use Application, then Tree Removal.
- Fill out the Tree Removal Application (or the Hazard Tree Removal form). The city’s Tree Removal Tip Sheet explains each field.
- Wait for emailed instructions on uploading your application and documents.
- After approval, remove the tree and plant replacements as required.
Questions: Redmond Development Services Center, 425-556-2494.
Hazard Trees and Emergencies
- Hazard Tree Declaration: submit before removal, with a tree health assessment completed by a certified arborist. No fee. City staff may accept photos instead of an arborist report if the tree is obviously and visibly dead, dying or diseased. Consult the city first. See hazardous tree removal.
- Emergency: when there is an imminent threat to the life and safety of people and structures, the tree can be removed without first obtaining a permit; the permit is issued retroactively. Take photos before and after. See emergency tree removal.
Critical Areas
Critical areas include Native Growth Protection Areas and Easements, classified streams and their buffers, and wetlands and their buffers. Trees there cannot be removed or altered unless a certified arborist deems them hazardous, and even then the arborist recommends how to mitigate the hazard, and all portions of a felled tree must stay within the critical area or buffer. Bear Creek, Evans Creek, the Sammamish River and Lake Sammamish shorelines are where Redmond homeowners most often run into this.
Pruning
Normal pruning doesn’t need a tree removal permit. Topping is prohibited under the draft 2027 code, and severe pruning that effectively destroys a significant tree can be treated as removal. Trees in the Lake Sammamish shoreline environment also fall under the Shoreline Master Program.
Related Pages
Questions We Hear
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Redmond, WA?
Yes, for any significant tree, meaning a trunk at least 6 inches in diameter measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Smaller trees don't need a tree removal permit, unless they're in a critical area or protected on a plat.
Is there a fee for a Redmond tree removal permit?
Yes. Since February 1, 2024, single-family tree removals and Tree Exception Requests carry an application fee (see the city's Development Review Fee Schedule for current amounts). Hazard Tree Declarations are free.
What happens if I remove a tree without a permit?
The city can require a permit after the fact, replacement trees, and penalties under its enforcement rules. Redmond's tree code update for 2027 also revises penalties. Unpermitted removals in critical areas are treated most seriously. It's much cheaper to ask first.
Can I remove a tree to build an ADU?
Tree removal for development, including ADUs, follows the development rules, not the homeowner yearly limits: a tree preservation plan and arborist report with the permit, and (under current code) retention of at least 35% of significant trees. The 2027 update replaces this with a tree credit system.