Cutting Down a Tree in my Backyard

[F16CrewChief]

Last winter during the ice storm, we had one of our trees in the backyard fall on our house. We still have an even larger tree bearing down on our house and more specifically, my sons room. I’d like to cut this tree down, but I fear being fined. I can’t seem to find whether or not I will. And I’m sure who to call. Hoping someone here may have some info?

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[redblack]

i don’t believe you can be fined for cutting a tree if it presents a hazard abd it’s entirely on your property.

http://www.seattlemag.com/article/seattle-homeowner-can-you-cut-down-tree

then there’s the question of whether or not it’s “exceptional.”

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[anonyme]

Trees don’t necessarily present a hazard just because they’re big, or near a house. In fact, the more big trees that people cut down, the more likely it is that other trees will fall. It might help to have a reputable arborist look at it.

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[tom kelley]

I would suggest a call to WSB sponsor Stonegedge, 937 7428.

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[WSB]

Thanks, Tom. Stonehedge’s website is:

http://www.stonehedgetree.com/Welcome.html

There is also lots of information on the city’s website regarding tree rules.

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/SeattlesTreeRegulationUpdate/InterimTreeRegulations/default.asp

Good luck with sorting out your situation … Tracy

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[JoB]

let us know what you learn

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[F16CrewChief]

Thank you everyone for the info. It appears I have much more homework to do that I expected.

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[Michael Waldo]

We had two large trees taken down last year. The certified arborist told us that you can take down 2 to 3 tress a year from your property in Seattle. They don’t need to be dangerous or sick. We just wanted to open up the sky.

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[The Velvet Bulldog]

F16, so long as the tree is on your property and not a right-of-way, you shouldn’t need a permit. However, as suggested by others, you could potentially save yourself a lot of time and money by getting an Arborist consultation. If Stonehedge is busy, I also recommend Apical Tree Services.

Also, if you decide to take the tree down, will you be keeping and using the wood chips? If you don’t plan to use them, can I have dibs on them??

Thanks!

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[celeste17]

The city has arborits on staff that you might try and see if they will come and give you some advise.

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[anonyme]

The City Arborists do not give consultations on trees that are on private property, only street trees. Stonehedge would be a good place to start, but they’re very busy. Make sure you talk to a consulting arborist, rather than someone who just specializes in take-downs. A consulting arborist can do that, too, but is more likely to examine the tree for issues and make recommendations.

You’re allowed to cut 3 trees per year over a certain caliper, if the law proposed several years ago has now gone into effect. Unfortunately, this still means a lot of unnecessary clearcutting on residential property, fueled by a paranoia of big trees.

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[jissy]

we built a new house 5 years ago and needed to cut some trees to do so (I think it was 4 total)… they were right on the property line with our new neighbors so of course we discussed it with them and also had them sign a piece of paper we all drew up that just noted we’d all discussed it and agreed to it (they were actually VERY happy we cut them as the trees dropped a lot of debris in their yard and shaded their roof which then grew lots of moss).

I researched everything I could online to determine we didn’t need any permits (according to my research) but next thing we know there is a C.O.S. person of some-kind on our property telling us we can now be fined b/c we didn’t get permits etc… The City person said if the trees are over a certain diameter we can be fined (I think it was $3,000.00 per tree!). In the end, we didn’t get fined but felt very lucky that we didn’t.

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[kayo]

We have a street tree that is getting really big and leans out into the street (it is a decorative plum with red leaves).. It had the middle chopped out of it by a line crew a couple years ago and is pretty hideous at this point. Does anyone know if I can get the city to remove it or do I have to take care of it as the property owner? Maybe Stonehenge knows the scoop on this and I should just call them.

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[anonyme]

Kayo, you are actually prohibited from removing a street tree, as it is not on your property. Call the City Arborist. A lot of street trees have been pruned in this manner for line clearance, and it is pretty hideous. However, they may want to prune the tree some more rather than remove it, especially if it’s intruding into the street.

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[waterworld]

CrewChief: I don’t think the law is overly complicated or that you necessarily need a consulting arborist if you are planning to cut it yourself, assuming you live in an ordinary residential area. The controlling code sections are in Section 25.11 and 25.09 of the Seattle Muncipal Code. SMC 25.11.040 provides that you may remove up to three trees in any one year, from a property zoned single-family residential or residential small-lot that is 5,000 square feet or more. This limitation applies to trees that are six inches or more in diameter, when measured at a point 4.5 feet above ground level. The three-tree limit does not apply at all to trees that are less than six inches in diameter. Nor does it apply to residential lots that are under 5,000 square feet.

There are some other codes sections that prohibit or restrict removing trees in certain areas or situations. Some examples are: the tree has been deemed “exceptional” by the Director of the DPD; the tree is in an “environmentally critical area,” such as a steep slope, liquefaction zone, or known landslide area; or, the lot is undeveloped. Even where a section of the code might limit or prohibit tree removal generally, if the tree is hazardous, it can be removed. But you don’t get to decide on your own that a tree is hazardous — you must get the DPD to sign off that designation.

So if you can fit into the three-tree rule, that’s the easiest way to go.

There are links to the code sections related to removing trees on the DPD website, here: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Codes/Tree_Landscaping_Regulations/Codes_Regulations/default.asp

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[F16CrewChief]

Thank you everyone!

I don’t believe the tree is necessarily hazardous. It is a vine maple with four trunks or whatever they’re called growing out of the base of the maple. I’m guessing the tree is 40 to 50 feet tall and about 10 feet from my house. Unfortunately, I do live against a hillside with houses above me. I’m on 17th, right below 16th. I have a family member that runs a tree cutting service out of North Bend, but he’s not an arborist. He swears I’m okay to cut it down regardless the condition and replant smaller trees. I know that’s not the preferred thing to do, but after the last tree fell on my house, my home owners insurance didn’t have warm fuzzies about that maple. And I can’t say I do either.

Thanks again everyone!

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[anonyme]

Cutting it down and replanting smaller trees is a great idea. Let us know if you want recommendations!

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[kayo]

Thanks for the helpful info everyone. I had no idea you need a permit to remove a street tree. My neighbors and I have talked about removing/replacing it for years and are lucky we did not make a potentially costly mistake. Anyway, I will be calling the city arborist to get some advice about our hideous leaning plum tree very soon.

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[The Velvet Bulldog]

kayo: I recently got a permit to remove two trees growing into the power lines on our parking strip. However, with the permit application, I also submitted a landscape design that emphasized drought-tolerant plantings and two Native Serviceberries as replacement trees (creates habitat.) You may be more likely to get your permit if you can show a replacement scheme emphasizing sustainable/native plants. (No promises, however!)

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[brew]

@Velvet, regarding your post #9, yesterday I saw a huge pile of woodchips with a free sign stuck in it on 34th ave sw just south of mrytle.

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[The Velvet Bulldog]

brew–you’re my hero of the day! Heading over there in 3, 2, 1…

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[debmark]

Crew Chief,

Stonehedge here,

If your Vine Maple is really 40 or 50 feet tall and multiple trunks, that is an Exceptionally large Vine Maple and probably falls within the “Exceptionally Nice Tree Category” and is prohibited from removal by the Seattle Interim Exceptional Tree Ordinance.

My thoughts are that it is probably a native Big Leaf Maple, they are multiple trunks and a 40 to 50 footer is not that big for an Exceptional Tree in the Big Leaf Maple Category. One would have to measure it. The greatest Risk of failure from a multiple stem/trunk maple is one of the stems separating from the other. Usually this will occur during a wind event. Feel free to contact me and I will give you my opinion on its risk if you want. I have been known to accept home baked cookies from West Seattle residents for a short consultation.

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[F16CrewChief]

debmark,

I will give you a call in the next couple days to set something up after Labor Day.

Thank you!

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[Michael Waldo]

We used Neil baker, a certified arborist.

He was knowledgeable, nice and donates the wood he cuts to a Boy Scout Camp.

His web site:

http://www.arboristsnw.com/Home.htm

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