Why Tacoma’s New Tree Ordinance is Such a Big Deal
On December 12, 2023, the Tacoma City Council made history. It passed Ordinance number 28926, relating to urban forestry:
“[...] amending Title 9 of the Municipal Code, relating to Public Ways, by repealing Chapters 9.18, 9.19, and 9.20 in their entirety and replacing Chapter 9.20 with an new chapter entitled “Urban Forestry”, to establish permit requirements and related regulations for pruning, removal, and planting of street trees, establish policies and procedures for discretionary review of requests to prune trees on public property, establish a heritage tree program, and provide for enforcement and penalties for violations […]”
Now if you made it through that paragraph, please allow me to tell you why this legal jargon is the most exciting development in urban forestry policy in Tacoma’s history!
1. Despite some lofty tree canopy goals, Tacoma has never had any tree protections.
You want to cut down a street tree? Just get a permit! You want to cut down a tree on private property? Go right ahead! This code update means that trees on public property (including the right-of-way) will finally have some basic protections. In June of 2024, it will largely become illegal to prune or remove a tree without a permit, and doing those things without a permit will be punishable by fine. This is the first step toward having real tree protections in the City of Destiny.
2. The code creates the legal framework for regulating trees in the public right-of-way.
Our previous laws regarding street trees were so old, they were unenforceable. Written in 1927, they would not have stood up in court. Calvin Coolidge was president! Jazz was sweeping the nation! Tacoma was the lumber capital of the world! Those were different times. Now, we’ll be able to call the City when we see suspicious tree work happening in the right-of-way. Tree topping becomes illegal. And companies that cut down public trees without permission will have to pay. This is a huge step toward having a healthier and more beautiful urban tree canopy!
3. For the first time, the City of Tacoma is putting a value on trees.
This is the first time that policy-makers at the City have managed to translate urban forestry goals into actual law. Think about that. We now have a public tree ordinance that recognizes how trees have public benefits like improving air quality, beautifying neighborhoods, and calming traffic. Trees are part of our social, economic, and environmental infrastructure. The new code puts a price on trees on public property, even creating a virtuous cycle by using fines collected from tree removals to fund urban forestry programs, just as Lakewood, Bonney Lake, and University Place have already done. That is a big deal!
4. A new “heritage tree program” will call attention to the public benefits of mature trees.
Programs like this go by many names, with big, old trees being designated as “significant,” “historic,” “heritage,” and so on. But what they have in common is that they help residents to appreciate the biggest, most interesting, or most amazing trees presiding over our communities. Sometimes there are signs saying why a certain tree is special. Sometimes community members can nominate their favorite trees. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to raise awareness of the importance of the urban forest. It can also be a key step toward getting tree protections on private property.
5. Folks will be allowed to plant fruit trees in the right-of-way, creating more space in the landscape for healthy local food.
One of the things we hear most often when we talk to our neighbors is how interested they are in having fruit trees. That’s why we often give away fruit trees and work with Harvest Pierce County to get people the educational resources they need in order to care for their trees and feed their families. While property owners need to be diligent to keep fruit from becoming a tripping hazard on sidewalks, they and their neighbors will be able to benefit from having a pear or apple tree outside their window and making Tacoma a little more resilient in the process.
To be clear: Tacoma’s tree policy still has some major gaps. Why does the City of Tacoma not take legal responsibility for right-of-way trees, as some neighboring municipalities do? Why are trees on private property not also regulated as critical infrastructure? What steps will the City take to make sure the new code is enforced? There is so much work left to do to, as mapped out so clearly in the Urban Forest Management Plan.
But for now, we can celebrate! We can thank our City Council members for doing something that no other council in Tacoma history was able to do. This is a great moment, a step toward a more healthy, beautiful, and resilient Tacoma.
