Forestry Permits

Permitted Urban Forestry Actions

Please look over the list of permitted activities below and fill out the application with the relevant information. The forester will get back to you once they have reviewed the application to schedule a meeting on site if necessary. 

Remember, tree work must be done by an approved volunteer or by a licensed and insured tree company. Always request bids in writing from multiple arborists to ensure you are getting a fair price. Never accept a hard sell. If you are contacted by a tree company using high pressure sales tactics contact the Oregon Department of Justice .

Pruning:

• Tree pruning generally falls into one of the following categories
  • Crown cleaning: the removal of dead, crossing, broken or co-dominant stems or suckers inside the crown of the tree.
  • Crown raising/elevation: removal of lower limbs to allow clearance for pedestrian and automobile traffic or to clear buildings or other infrastructure.
  • Reduction: pruning to reduce load on limbs or to reduce overall size of a tree. This is unusual and is generally done to compensate for structural defects or during structural training of young trees.
  • Trees may also be pruned to clear buildings, utilities or for construction related activity.
  • Generally aesthetic pruning is not allowed.
  • Remember, trees don’t heal, they compartmentalize, so every cut counts.

Sidewalk work:

• Sidewalk repair around trees may require root pruning or sidewalk modification to allow for existing tree roots.
• If you have a project which may impact a city tree please reach out to the urban forester and to Public Works  to discuss your options.

Installation of irrigation or lawn maintenance requiring sod cutting or tilling

 These activities should be avoided under the drip-line of trees as major root damage is likely to occur.

• If you look up and see leaves from a tree please call the urban forester for advice on how to proceed with your project. 
• If you encounter a larger root in your yard or parking strip, please call the urban forester before you cut it.
• Damaging a city tree is illegal but we are happy to provide guidance and even prune some roots.

Planting:

• Please see Tree Planting page (hyperlink to tree planting page) for further details.
• If you are interested in planting your own tree please fill out an application and submit it to the Urban Forester.

Tree Removal:

• Tree removal is generally permitted only for the following reasons 
  • The tree is no longer structurally sound and has been deemed so by the Urban Forester or City Arborist.
  • The tree presents an irreconcilable barrier to development of a piece of private property
  • The tree presents a significant and irreconcilable hazard to vital infrastructure
  • The tree presents a risk to other trees due to the presence of a disease or pathogen (ex: an Elm tree infected with Dutch Elm Disease located in proximity to other Elm trees)