Neighborhood Favorite
2021–2025 (5 consecutive years)
Voted a Neighborhood Favorite by local homeowners for reliable service, clear communication, and professional tree care.
Seattle Tree Maintenance Services
Seattle’s climate creates year-round challenges for tree health — from wet-season fungal issues to summer drought stress and seasonal storm damage. Sound Tree Care LLC provides expert, ISA-Certified tree maintenance services designed specifically for Seattle homeowners, HOAs, and property managers. Our arborist-led team delivers proactive pruning, seasonal care plans, and long-term maintenance programs to keep your trees safe, healthy, and beautiful all year long.
Our Seattle Tree Maintenance Services
From routine pruning and canopy management to long-term tree health planning, Sound Tree Care provides professional, arborist-led tree maintenance throughout Seattle. Our work focuses on keeping trees safe, healthy, and structurally sound — while ensuring compliance with Seattle municipal codes, SDCI regulations, and best arboricultural practices.
Whether you need seasonal pruning, hazard reduction, clearance from structures and utilities, or ongoing maintenance for mature trees, our ISA Certified Arborists deliver thoughtful, standards-based care designed to extend tree life and reduce risk. We help homeowners, HOAs, and property managers make informed, proactive decisions that prevent costly problems down the line.
We’re proud to be a Comcast RISE 2025 recipient, a member of the Seattle Metro Chamber, and a certified GSBA (Greater Seattle Business Association) business — organizations that recognize companies committed to professionalism, equity, and responsible business practices in the Seattle region. These affiliations reflect our dedication to safe, ethical, and code-compliant tree care across the city.
Whether you need help with hazardous limbs, storm damage, permitting, or long-term tree health, our team delivers trusted, certified, and accountable tree care Seattle homeowners can rely on.
Comcast RISE 2025 Grant Recipient
Comcast RISE 2025 award badge recognizing Sound Tree Care for innovation and small business impact
What’s Included in Our Tree Maintenance Programs
🌳 Tree Trimming & Pruning
Proper pruning improves tree structure, boosts long-term health, and helps reduce safety hazards — especially in Seattle’s dense, urban canopy. Our ISA Certified Arborists offer precision trimming for everything from ornamental maples to large conifers. Whether you're improving curb appeal, increasing sun exposure, or preparing for storm season, we’ll trim with purpose and care.
✂️ Learn more about best practices in our guide: Tree Pruning Techniques & Timing
🩺 Tree Health Assessments
In addition to seasonal trimming and cleanup, we provide full arboricultural services to support the long-term health and structure of your trees. From professional tree risk assessments to root zone evaluations and soil health recommendations, our certified arborists are here to help your trees thrive in every season.
🌿 Explore our full range of services here: Arboricultural Services
🌱 Seasonal Tree Maintenance
From winter cleanup to spring pruning and summer drought prep, our seasonal tree maintenance services are tailored to Seattle’s unique weather patterns and native tree species. We help homeowners and property managers plan ahead to reduce risk, promote healthy growth, and keep landscapes looking their best year-round.
🗓️ Learn what to do each season in our blog: Year-Round Tree Care in the Pacific Northwest
🛡️ Preventative Tree Risk Management
Stop problems before they start. We offer bracing, guying, and clearance pruning to help trees survive storms and heavy wind events. Learn more about structural support options like tree cabling in our blog: When Does a Tree Need Cabling or Bracing?
🧼 Debris & Canopy Clean-Up
Remove dead limbs, lift canopies, and clear branches from structures, driveways, and roofs — all done safely and cleanly. Reducing built-up debris also lowers fire risk, especially during dry summer months in the Pacific Northwest. Read more in our blog post: Fire Risk Awareness & Tree Maintenance
🧭 Why Tree Maintenance Matters in Seattle’s Climate
- Wet winters → fungal issues & root disease
- Dry summers → drought stress
- Heavy winds → limb failure risk
- Dense Seattle neighborhoods → proximity hazards
- Older neighborhoods → mature trees needing yearly oversight
🗓️Annual Tree Maintenance Plans
- HOA maintenance programs
- Multi-unit property care
- Rental property maintenance packages
- Seasonal visit schedule (Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter)
Registered Seattle Tree Service Provider – Why It Matters for Tree Maintenance
Sound Tree Care LLC is a fully registered, licensed, and Seattle-approved tree service provider. Our team is authorized to perform tree removal, pruning, and arborist work that complies with all Seattle tree regulations. Our credentials include:
- Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) – License: TSP-18505
- Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) – License: TSP-18505
As a long-standing Seattle arborist company, we specialize in navigating Seattle tree removal permits, SDCI Tree Code requirements, SDOT street tree regulations, and environmentally critical area (ECA) protections. We ensure every pruning, removal, or risk assessment complies with city rules — preventing costly violations, delays, or rejections.
With an ISA Certified Arborist and TRAQ Qualified Tree Risk Assessor overseeing your project, you receive expert evaluations, precise documentation, and a streamlined permitting process tailored to Seattle’s regulations.
⚠️
Why it’s important:
Only providers registered with SDCI and SDOT are legally permitted to work on Seattle’s regulated trees. Hiring an unregistered company can result in fines, stop-work orders, or removal permit denials.
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Tree Service Provider
Sound Tree Care LLC is licensed with SDOT to perform permitted pruning and removal of Seattle Street trees, ensuring compliance with Seattle right-of-way safety, visibility, and clearance standards.
LIC-TSP-18505
Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) Registered Provider
We are approved by SDCI to perform permitted removal, pruning, and arborist reporting on private property within Seattle — including steep slopes, ECAs, wetlands, buffer zones, and regulated tree categories.
LIC-TSP-18505
What Each Seattle License Allows Us to Do
✔ Street Tree Pruning & Removals 🌲
✔ Traffic & Pedestrian Right-of-Way Compliance 🚧
✔ Utility Line Clearance (Non-Electrical) ⚡
What Each Seattle License Allows Us to Do
✔ Regulated Tree Removals (Tier 1–Tier 3) 📝
✔ Arborist Reports & Tree Protection Plans 📘
✔ ECA-Compliant Work 🏛️
🔒 Seattle Tree Code 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
- 🏛️ SDCI-Registered and Compliant for Seattle Tree Protection Code (SMC 25.11)
- 🚧 SDOT-Compliant for Right-of-Way Clearance & Street Tree 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.
🌍 Serving Seattle & the Greater Puget Sound Region
Sound Tree Care LLC provides expert tree services throughout Seattle, including Ballard, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, Northgate, Green Lake, Rainier Valley, and surrounding neighborhoods. Whether you live on a tight Seattle city lot or a larger wooded property on the outskirts, our team is trained and equipped to handle both residential and commercial tree care with absolute precision.
We proudly support Seattle homeowners, HOAs, landlords, property managers, contractors, and small businesses who rely on safe, compliant, ISA-Certified tree care.
📍 Seattle Neighborhoods We Serve
📍North Seattle:
- Green Lake
- Northgate
- Maple Leaf
- Wedgewood
- Lake City
- Roosevelt
- Haller Lake
- Broadview
- Licton Springs
📍Central Seattle:
- Capitol Hill
- Madison Valley
- Madrona
- Central District
- First Hill
- Montlake
- Eastlake
- Yesler Terrace
📍West Seattle:
- West Seattle
- Admiral
- Alki
- Delridge
- Fauntleroy
- High Point
- Arbor Heights
- Highland Park
📍Northwest Seattle:
- Ballard
- Old Ballard
- Loyal Heights
- Sunset Hill
- Crown Hill
- Phinney Ridge
- Greenwood
- Blue Ridge
- North Beach
📍South Seattle:
- Beacon Hill
- Rainier Valley
- Rainier Beach
- Seward Park
- Columbia City
- Mount Baker
- New Holly
📍Downtown & Surrounding:
- Queen Anne
- Belltown
- South Lake Union
- Pioneer Square
- Denny Triangle
- International District
🔍See Where Sound Tree Care Has Made a Difference
Proudly serving neighborhoods across the region, our interactive project map showcases real locations where we've delivered expert tree removal, pruning, and emergency storm cleanup services. Each pin on the map represents a satisfied customer and a job done right.
Explore the map to see our commitment to safety, precision, and professional tree care in action—right in your own community.
Seattle Tree Codes, Permits, and Arborist Regulations (2025 Guides)
Tree work in Seattle is governed by one of the most complex municipal tree codes in Washington State. Depending on tree size, species, location, and zoning, pruning or removal may require permits, professional documentation, or review by the city. To help homeowners, HOAs, developers, and contractors navigate these rules, we’ve created a comprehensive 2025 guide to Seattle tree removal permits and tree code.
This guide explains when permits are required, how Seattle classifies Tier 1–3 and Exceptional Trees, how Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs) affect allowable tree work, and when a Registered Tree Service Provider (RTSP) or ISA Certified Arborist is required. It also covers legal pruning vs. removal, mitigation and replanting requirements, and common compliance pitfalls that can lead to enforcement actions. Reviewing this guide before starting work can help you avoid fines, delays, and costly violations.
Learn when a tree removal permit is required in Seattle, how Tier 2/3 and ECA rules work, and when a Registered Tree Service Provider is required.
Many people ask us if they need an arborist to take care of their trees and why, so I thought I’d address that question in this article. The simple answer is it depends on what you need. The state of Washington has put in place strict laws and regulations to preserve, expand, and protect our urban forests. Many of those regulations require you to enlist the help of a registered tree service and an ISA-certified arborist. But before I get into the nitty-gritty of what types of tree care you need an arborist for, let me explain what a certified arborist is and why they are the best person to care for your trees, hedges, and woody landscapes.
If you need tree care or removal in Seattle, WA, you must hire a registered tree service provider; and here's why.
📝Frequently Asked Questions About Tree Maintenance in Seattle
❓How often should I trim my trees in Seattle?
Most trees in Seattle benefit from pruning every 2 to 3 years, but this depends on the species, age, and location. Fast-growing trees like willows or maples may require annual trimming, while mature conifers can go longer. Trimming is best done during the dormant season (late fall to early spring) to reduce stress and promote healthy regrowth. Our certified arborists can create a maintenance schedule specific to your trees and property.
❓Can tree trimming help prevent storm damage?
Yes — preventative pruning is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of storm damage. By thinning the canopy, reducing heavy limbs, and removing deadwood, we improve wind flow and lower the chances of limb breakage during heavy wind or rain events. This is especially important in older neighborhoods with large, established trees. We also offer post-storm inspections if you're concerned about damage or hidden structural issues.
❓Do you provide maintenance plans for rental or multi-unit properties?
Absolutely. We offer custom maintenance plans for property managers, HOAs, landlords, and commercial spaces. These can include quarterly inspections, seasonal trimming, emergency tree response, and documentation for liability protection. Keeping trees healthy on a shared property isn’t just good for safety — it adds value and improves curb appeal.
❓What are signs that a tree needs maintenance or removal?
Look for:
Dead or hanging limbs
Excessive leaning or recent soil heaving around roots
Fungal growth on the trunk or base
Sparse leaf coverage or delayed budding
Cracks in the trunk or large cavities
If you see these, your tree may need urgent care or even removal. Early action can often preserve the tree and prevent costly emergencies.
❓Do I need a permit to trim or remove a tree in Seattle?
In many cases, yes. Seattle has tree protection codes that regulate the removal of “exceptional trees”, trees on steep slopes, or those in environmentally critical areas. Even trimming on public property or near power lines may require coordination with the city. We’re familiar with Seattle’s tree codes and can help with permitting, documentation, and communicating with the city when needed.
Awards & Recognition
Sound Tree Care has earned consistent third-party recognition for quality, professionalism, and customer satisfaction across Seattle.
Best Rated Tree Service
2024 • 2025 • 2026
Recognized for consistently strong customer satisfaction and service quality based on independent review analysis.
Top Tree Service
2023
Selected based on service reputation, customer feedback, and professional standards.
Best Tree Removal Company
2022
Industry recognition highlighting safe removal practices and customer satisfaction.
Note: Awards and recognitions are independently issued by the organizations listed above and are generally based on review analysis, service quality, and/or community feedback.
⭐ 4.8-star rating from 200+ Google reviews, reflecting consistent customer satisfaction across Seattle neighborhoods.
🌲Ready for Expert Tree Maintenance in Seattle?
🌿 Keep your trees healthy, safe, and looking their best year-round with Seattle’s trusted ISA-Certified Arborists. Sound Tree Care provides proactive tree maintenance designed for Seattle’s unique climate — from seasonal pruning and canopy thinning to health assessments, preventative risk management, and annual care plans for homeowners, HOAs, and rental properties.
Whether your trees need routine shaping, hazard-reduction pruning, or long-term maintenance to prevent storm damage, our arborist-led team is here to deliver safe, compliant, expert care across all Seattle neighborhoods.
Call today for a free estimate — protect your trees, your property, and your peace of mind.
⭐ What You Can Expect
✔️ Free, No-Obligation Maintenance Estimates
🍃 Full Cleanup Included With Every Visit
📋 Seasonal Tree Care Plans (Spring / Summer / Fall / Winter)
🪜 Safety-Focused Pruning, Thinning & Canopy Management
🌳 Tree Health Checks, Monitoring & Arborist Recommendations
🎓 ISA Certified Arborists, TRAQ Qualified
⭐ 5-Star Rated on Google, Yelp & Facebook
🛡 Licensed, Insured & Fully Seattle-Compliant
📞 Get in Touch
📱
Call us now:
206-486-7790 — Click to call a Seattle arborist!
📝
Request an online quote:
Client Hub
📍 Proudly serving tree maintenance needs across all Seattle neighborhoods.
