Arboricultural Consulting & Tree Risk Assessments in Seattle & Bellevue

ISA Certified Arborist   Risk Assessments   Reports   Preservation Plans


Sound Tree Care provides professional arboricultural consulting services, including TRAQ-certified tree risk assessments, hazard evaluations, arborist reports, and permit documentation. Whether you’re planning construction, dealing with a potentially hazardous tree, or navigating complex city regulations, our ISA Certified Arborists deliver clear, defensible guidance you can trust.

🌲 Professional Arboricultural Consulting Services

When tree decisions affect your home, your neighbors, or your development plans, you need expert, science-based guidance. Our consulting services help homeowners, contractors, HOAs, property managers, and developers make safe, compliant, and informed decisions in the urban forest.


We provide detailed documentation, photo evidence, and defensible professional opinions backed by ISA and TRAQ qualifications.

Professional Work Backed by Certified Expertise

All work completed by Sound Tree Care is performed or supervised by ISA Certified Arborists. Our services follow ANSI Z133 safety standards and ANSI A300 pruning guidelines to ensure proper arboricultural care, long-term tree health, and compliance with Seattle and King County regulations.

Written by Dana Ledford, ISA Certified Arborist & Permitting and Compliance Specialist

Dana Ledford

Office Manager

Elevates operations, maintains client satisfaction, and ensures administrative compliance for Sound Tree Care LLC.

This page was written by Dana Ledford, an ISA Certified Arborist and Sound Tree Care’s permitting and compliance specialist. Dana manages construction-related arborist reports, permitting workflows, and municipal code compliance for cities throughout the Puget Sound region. She has deep expertise in protected tree regulations, ECA requirements, and pre-application guidance for homeowners and builders.

🍃Arboricultural Consulting Services We Offer


We offer a complete suite of consulting and reporting services for residential and commercial properties:


🌲 TRAQ Tree Risk Assessments

Formal tree risk assessments using ISA’s Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) methodology. Identifies likelihood of failure, targets, consequences, and mitigation options.

📑 Arborist Reports for Permits & Compliance

We prepare detailed arborist reports required for:

  • Seattle SDCI permitting
  • Bellevue Tree Code compliance
  • Redmond, Renton, and Sammamish regulations
  • ECA (steep slope, wetland, shoreline) reviews
  • Hazard tree removal approvals
  • Construction and development plans

⚠️ Hazard Tree Evaluations

Inspection of structural defects, decay, cracks, pests, disease, lean, root plate movement, and environmental factors.

🏗️ Construction & Development Consulting

Tree protection plans, root zone mapping, construction impact evaluations, and guidance for architects, engineers, and builders.

🌿 Soil, Root, and Health Diagnostics

Soil volume issues, root disturbances, hydrology changes, compaction, nutrient deficiencies, and PHC recommendations.

🤝 Neighbor Disputes & Boundary Trees

Neutral, third-party assessments for property line conflicts, encroaching trees, branch/limb hazards, and shared tree issues.

🏘️ Real Estate & Insurance Reports

Fast, professional reports for real estate transactions, insurance claims, pre-purchase inspections, and lending requirements.

Certified, Qualified, and Trusted Arborist Report Specialists

Not all arborist reports are created equal. Ours are built on real climbing experience, ISA certification, TRAQ methodology, and deep local code knowledge. We provide reports that are:

  • Clear
  • Defensible
  • Detailed
  • Photo-documented
  • Aligned with ANSI A300 standards
  • Compliant with municipal tree regulations

Our reports are regularly approved by Seattle SDCI, Bellevue Development Services, Redmond Planning, Renton, Sammamish, Tukwila, Burien, and more.

How Our Tree Risk Assessment Process Works

Certified arborist assesses tree

Every assessment follows ISA TRAQ methodology and includes:


1. Initial Consultation

Discussion of site concerns, history, incidents, and objectives.


2. On-Site Assessment

Visual inspection, root collar examination, soil evaluation, structural analysis, and canopy health review.


3. Measurement & Documentation

Digital documentation using diameter tapes, Nikon Forestry Pro laser rangefinder, soil probes, and  camera.


4. Risk Analysis

Identifying likelihood of failure, target zone, consequences, and environmental factors.


5. Recommendations

Mitigation options such as pruning, load reduction, cabling/bracing, soil remediation, monitoring, or removal.


6. Report Delivery

A written, defensible arborist report suitable for permitting, insurance, or legal use.

🔒 Certified Experts You Can Trust

Sound Tree Care is operated by highly skilled certified arborists—not salespeople. Every major decision, assessment, and recommendation is overseen by an ISA Certified Arborist and TRAQ Qualified Tree Risk Assessor.

Our Credentials & Compliance

  • 🪪 Washington State Licensed Contractor
  • 🛡️ Fully Insured — Liability & Workers’ Compensation
  • 🌲 ISA Certified Arborists & TRAQ Qualified
  • 🏛 SDOT & SDCI-Compliant for Seattle Right-of-Way Work
  • 📝 Written Proposals, Documentation & Permitting Support
  • ⚙️ Safe Work Procedures for Pruning, Rigging & Aerial Operations

You deserve safe, professional tree care that protects your home, your family, and your investment — every single time.

Sound Tree Logo

Arborist Report & Tree Risk Assessment FAQs

  • Do I need an arborist report for tree removal?

    In many cities, yes. Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, and Sammamish often require an arborist report to approve removals, especially for significant trees or ECAs.

  • How long does a TRAQ assessment take?

    Most on-site assessments take 30–60 minutes, with reports delivered within 24–48 hours depending on complexity.

  • Can you help with construction permits?

    Yes. We create Tree Protection Plans, root impact assessments, and documentation for development reviews.

  • How much does an arborist report cost?

    Most reports range from $250–$750 depending on complexity.

    Tree Protection Zones

  • Do you climb the tree during an assessment?

    Most assessments are visual ground-based (Level 1–2). Aerial inspection is available for advanced diagnostics.

Reviewed By: Eric Ledford ISA Certified Arborist & Qualified Tree Risk Assessor

Founder, Sound Tree Care LLC ISA Certified Arborist (PN-9290A) Qualified Tree Risk Assessor (TRAQ) NUCA DigSafe Certified

This content has been reviewed by Eric Ledford, ISA Certified Arborist (PN-9290A) and TRAQ Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. Eric verifies that all recommendations reflect current ISA best management practices, ANSI A300 standards, and applicable municipal tree regulations in the Puget Sound region.

🌲Schedule an Arborist Report or Risk Assessment


Get expert guidance from a certified arborist today. Whether you're dealing with a hazardous tree, planning construction, or navigating city permitting, we’re here to help.

 

✅ Free, No-Obligation Estimates

🪵 Full Cleanup & Debris Removal

🏗️ Permit Guidance for Seattle, Tacoma & Local Cities

⚠️ Safe Work Procedures for Removals, Rigging & Aerial Operations


🧰 ISA Certified Arborists, TRAQ-Qualified

⭐ 5-Star Rated on Google, Yelp & Facebook

🛡️ Licensed, Insured & Code-Compliant

🥇 Experience the Sound Difference: Trusted. Local. Professional.


 📞 Call us now at 206-486-7790 – Click to call!
📝 Request a Free Quote Online: Request Arborist Report

📍 Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Tacoma & Beyond