🌳 Shoreline Tree Removal Permits & Tree Code – 2025 Complete Guide

October 4, 2025

Everything you need to know about Shoreline’s 2025 tree protection code — permit rules, significant trees, and replanting requirements.

Why Shoreline’s Tree Code Matters

city of shoreline logo

The City of Shoreline’s Tree Conservation Code (SMC 20.50) was created to balance urban development with long-term tree canopy preservation. With steep slopes, wetland buffers, and a strong commitment to sustainability, Shoreline maintains strict rules for tree removal, pruning, and replanting.


Whether you’re a homeowner preparing for yard work, a contractor managing a redevelopment project, or a property manager maintaining large lots, understanding when you need a tree removal permit and how to comply with city requirements will help you avoid fines, delays, and enforcement actions.


If you’re not sure where to start, our team can help. Visit our Arboricultural Consulting Services page for help with permit documentation, Tree Risk Assessments (TRAQ), and city submittals.

🛑When You Need a Tree Removal Permit in Shoreline

Tree removal in Shoreline generally requires a permit if any of the following conditions apply:

  • The tree is 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) or larger, and you plan to remove more than one tree per year.
  • The tree is located in a critical area (such as a steep slope, wetland, or stream buffer).
  • The tree qualifies as a significant or landmark tree, usually defined as 24 inches DBH or larger.
  • The removal is associated with a building, grading, or development permit.

The city differentiates between:

  • Minor Tree Activity Permits – typically for small residential removals.
  • Major Tree Activity Permits – for projects involving multiple trees or development sites.

Each type has its own level of documentation and review.

Need help with documentation or risk forms? Our Tree Removal Services include permit-ready arborist reports and TRAQ assessments that meet Shoreline’s submission standards.

🟢Trees You Can Remove Without a Permit

Shoreline allows limited removals without a permit if:

  • You remove no more than one tree per year on your property that is under 24 inches DBH.
  • The tree is dead, dying, or hazardous, confirmed by a certified arborist.
  • The tree is an invasive or nuisance species (such as English holly, English ivy, or laurel).

Even if a permit isn’t required, homeowners are encouraged to replant native trees to maintain canopy coverage. Visit our Tree Replanting page to explore approved species lists and replanting best practices.

📝The Tree Removal Permit Process in Shoreline

Here’s what the City of Shoreline typically requires for a legal tree removal:

  1. Hire an ISA Certified Arborist (TRAQ preferred) to perform a site evaluation and document tree health, condition, and risk.
  2. Submit a Tree Removal Permit Application to the City of Shoreline Planning & Community Development Department.
  3. Include a site plan showing tree location, an arborist report, and photos of the trees to be removed.
  4. The city reviews the application for compliance with SMC 20.50.290–370 (Tree Conservation Code).
  5. If approved, the city will issue a permit with any replanting or mitigation conditions attached.

Most permit reviews take 2–4 weeks, though complex or ECA-adjacent sites may require additional time.

Need help assembling your permit package? Our Arboricultural Consulting team prepares full city submittals, including maps, arborist letters, and replanting plans — saving you time and avoiding costly back-and-forth with reviewers.

🌱Replanting and Mitigation Requirements

If a tree is removed under a permit, Shoreline usually requires a 1:1 replacement ratio — meaning one new tree for every tree removed. However, large canopy trees may require multiple replacements.

Replacement trees must:

  • Be at least 2 inches caliper, measured 6 inches above ground.
  • Be chosen from the city’s approved native or climate-resilient species list.
  • Be maintained and watered for at least five years after planting.

If your property cannot accommodate replacement trees, the city may allow off-site mitigation or a fee-in-lieu payment.

Sound Tree Care can create replanting plans that satisfy canopy coverage and ECA requirements. Learn more on our Tree Replanting blog page.

⚠️Hazard Tree Exemptions

Tree fallen on car

If a tree poses an immediate safety hazard — such as heavy lean, advanced decay, or broken stems — it may qualify for removal under the Hazard Tree Exemption.


You’ll still need a TRAQ Risk Assessment and Arborist Report documenting the risk condition before removal. Once the city reviews and confirms the hazard, removal can proceed without a full development permit.


Sound Tree Care’s TRAQ-certified arborists provide the professional documentation the city requires for hazard removals, ensuring compliance and safety.

💸Penalties for Unpermitted Tree Removal

Unauthorized removals or topping can result in serious penalties, including:

  • Fines up to three times the tree’s appraised value
  • Stop-work orders on related development permits
  • Mandatory replanting or ECA restoration requirements

The City of Shoreline enforces these rules actively, particularly for large or critical-area trees. Hiring a qualified arborist helps prevent costly enforcement actions.

🏛️ Regulatory Compliance

All tree work in Shoreline must comply with:

  • ANSI A300 standards (tree care operations)
  • ISA Best Management Practices
  • Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 20.50 (Tree Conservation Code)

While Shoreline does not currently require registration under an RTSP system like Seattle’s, it is still essential to hire a licensed and insured tree service with ISA credentials and permit experience.

Our team works closely with the City of Shoreline to ensure all removals, pruning, and replanting projects meet city standards — especially near Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs).

✅ How Sound Tree Care Fits In

Sound Tree Care LLC provides full-service arboricultural consulting and tree management solutions throughout Shoreline and greater King County. Our qualifications include:


ISA Certified Arborists and TRAQ assessors

Expertise in ECA and slope stabilization sites

Permit documentation, arborist reports, and risk assessments

Replanting and mitigation planning

Tree removals and pruning performed to ANSI A300 standards

Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor, or property manager, we handle every step — from evaluation to permitting, removal, and replanting — ensuring full compliance with city and environmental regulations.

📞 Ready to Remove or Work Near a Tree in Shoreline?

🌳 Get expert help with tree removal permits, TRAQ tree risk assessments, and code-compliant tree protection plans.
📞 Call 206-486-7790 or request a free consultation online.

Sound Tree Care LLC — ISA Certified Arborists Serving Shoreline & Nearby Neighborhoods.
Our certified team specializes in Shoreline tree removal permits, TRAQ tree risk assessments, Tree Protection Zones (TPZ), Tree Protection Plans (TPP), and plant health care — keeping your project safe, compliant, and on schedule.