Sound Tree Care Tree Resource Hub for Seattle Homeowners

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Welcome to the Sound Tree Care Resource Hub — your trusted guide for expert tree care guidance for the Puget Sound region. Here you’ll find practical homeowner tools, cost insights, pruning and maintenance tips, Tree Law guidance, and educational articles written by ISA-Certified Arborists.


This Resource Hub connects homeowners to our complete library of tree care guidance, including tree removal safety, local tree laws, planting advice, arborist tools, and cost resources — helping you make confident decisions about pruning, removal, safety, and long-term tree health.

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Written by: Eric Ledford, ISA Certified Arborist (PN-9290A)

Reviewed by: Dana Ledford, ISA Certified Arborist (PN-10173A)

Sound Tree Care LLC – Seattle, Washington

Last updated: January 2026

⚖️ Tree Law in Washington State

Tree laws in Washington State govern who owns trees, who is responsible for them, and what rights and liabilities apply when trees affect neighboring properties, views, or structures. These laws are established at the state level and interpreted through court decisions, municipal codes, and established arboricultural standards.

This section explains the legal principles behind tree ownership, boundary trees, neighbor disputes, property damage liability, and view obstruction conflicts.

While cities manage permits and enforcement, tree law applies statewide and often determines outcomes when disputes or property damage occur.

  • If your situation involves shared trees, neighbor conflict, or potential property damage, understanding tree law is the first step before pursuing permits or tree work.


🏙️ Tree Permits by City in Washington State

Tree permitting requirements in Washington State are city-specific, with rules that vary widely based on location, zoning, tree size, and environmental protections. Most cities regulate tree removal, pruning, and construction impacts through municipal codes rather than state law. Because these rules vary widely, permit requirements in Seattle may be very different from nearby cities like Bellevue, Renton, or Tacoma.

This hub provides city-by-city guidance on tree permit requirements, including:

  • Significant tree size thresholds
  • Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)
  • Street and right-of-way tree rules
  • When permits are required (and when they are not)

Each city page links directly to official municipal resources and summarizes key permit triggers homeowners commonly encounter during tree removal, pruning, or construction planning.

Because permit rules change frequently and enforcement is local, this section is organized by city to help homeowners quickly find accurate, location-specific information before scheduling tree work or submitting applications.

  • If you’re planning tree removal, development, or major pruning, start here to confirm whether a permit is required in your city.


Helpful Tools & Tree Care Resources

Use these tools and guides to estimate costs, measure your trees, understand your options, and manage your tree care projects. These resources are designed by our ISA-Certified Arborists to help homeowners make confident, informed decisions before scheduling service.  Looking for something specific? Choose a tool or guide below.

🌲 Tree Care Basics

Foundational guidance for maintaining healthy, resilient trees year-round.

🪓 Tree Removal, Risk & Safety

🌱 Tree Selection & Planting

🪵 Free Wood Chips & Firewood Program

📚 Additional Resources

 👉 Request an estimate for tree service


Free Tree Programs & Community Tree Giveaways in the Puget Sound Region

Person in yellow raincoat plants something outdoors with a shovel.

Many cities and nonprofit organizations across the Puget Sound region offer free or subsidized trees to residents as part of urban canopy, climate resilience, and neighborhood greening programs. Availability, eligibility, and species vary by location and season. Below is a curated list of legitimate programs we regularly reference for homeowners looking to plant new trees responsibly.

If you need help selecting the right tree for your property, planting correctly, or managing long-term growth near structures or utilities, our ISA-Certified Arborists can help.

🌿 Seattle Residents

Get free yard trees, planting support, care resources, and more from the City of Seattle’s flagship tree giveaway program. Applicants can receive trees delivered to their property and support to plant and care for them.

 🌳Nearby Cities Free Tree Programs

Bellevue offers free trees for residents and community organizations as part of its urban canopy initiative, in partnership with 300 Trees and other sponsors. Participation often includes training on proper planting and care.

Tacoma’s Urban Forestry Grit City Trees program offers free street trees (and supporting materials) to eligible residents for right-of-way planting. It’s an annual program with applications typically opening in mid-summer and planting in fall.

Shoreline’s Communi-trees program provides one free tree per property, help selecting tree species, and planting supplies for eligible residents.

The Burien Tree Giveaway is offered through the Green Burien Partnership and King Conservation District. In recent years, residents have been able to pick up free trees in fall to plant on private property with landowner permission.

 Regional & Nonprofit Tree Programs

  • 300 Trees (King County) – 300 Trees is a nonprofit running large annual tree giveaway events across King County. Residents, schools, and organizations can select trees (often up to 3 per household) and pick them up at scheduled distribution sites.
  • Tacoma Tree Foundation – The Tacoma Tree Foundation works with local partners and neighborhood volunteers to distribute free or low-cost trees and organize planting events to grow Tacoma’s urban canopy.

💳 Tree Voucher Programs

  • Lynnwood Tree Voucher Program – Lynnwood residents can apply for up to $500 in tree vouchers each year — a coupon you use at participating nurseries to select and plant your own trees at no direct tree cost (aside from planting). 

📅 Most of these programs run seasonally (typically spring or fall) and may require advance registration; check the links above for current availability.


Need help choosing the right tree, planting correctly, or managing long-term growth near structures or utilities? Our ISA-Certified Arborists can help.

Free Wood Chips & Firewood from Local Tree Removals

Community members repurposing salvaged wood from local tree removals.

We offer free wood chips, logs, and tree rounds to homeowners, gardeners, and community members throughout the Seattle area. These materials come directly from active tree removal and pruning projects performed by our ISA-Certified Arborists and help reduce waste while supporting gardens, landscaping, erosion control, and firewood needs. Availability depends on current job locations and timing. This program is one of the ways we reduce waste from local tree removals while giving back to the community.

Sound Tree Care Blog & Educational Guides

Our blog is where we publish timely, practical guidance on tree care, safety, permitting, costs, and homeowner responsibilities across the Puget Sound region. Articles are written and reviewed by ISA-Certified Arborists and focus on real questions we see every day—from tree law and permits to pruning best practices, storm response, planting decisions, and long-term tree health.

Below you’ll find a selection of our most recent and most referenced posts. You can also browse the full blog to explore articles by topic, search for specific questions, or review guides organized around tree law, permits, costs, and arborist best practices.

Whether you’re planning tree work, dealing with a neighbor issue, researching costs, or simply trying to care for your trees responsibly, the blog is designed to help you make informed decisions before taking action.

👉 Explore the full Sound Tree Care Blog

By eric B January 27, 2026
Everything Issaquah homeowners, HOAs, and contractors need to know about tree removal permits, significant tree regulations, Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs), Tree Protection Zones (TPZs), and replanting requirements (2026)
federal way Washington patch
By eric B January 7, 2026
Federal Way tree removal permit guide (2026). Learn when permits are required, rules for critical areas and right-of-way trees, and how to avoid delays.
mercer island
By eric B January 4, 2026
Everything Mercer Island homeowners, HOAs, and contractors need to know about tree removal permits, significant tree regulations, Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs), Tree Protection Zones (TPZs), and replanting requirements (2026)

Need Expert Tree Services?


Sound Tree Care delivers safe, code-compliant service backed by ISA-Certified Arborists. Whether you need emergency cleanup after a windstorm, help navigating  tree permits, or routine pruning to protect your home, we’re here to provide fast, professional support.

 

✅ Free, No-Obligation Estimates

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🏗️ Permit Guidance for Seattle, Tacoma & Local Cities

⚠️ Safe Work Procedures for Removals, Rigging & Aerial Operations


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