Rules below are from the City's Tree Removal and Tree Removal Only Permit pages, read 23 October 2026.
Which trees need a permit
Diameter is measured 4 feet above existing grade.
| Tree | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Significant tree | 6 inches or more in diameter (19+ inches around) |
| Landmark tree | Generally 24 inches or more (75+ inches around); lower for some slow-growing native species |
| Any tree in a critical area, buffer or structure setback | Permit, under LUC 20.25H |
| Any tree within 50 feet of a shoreline | Permit, under LUC 20.25E |
| Any tree in a native growth protection area or retained vegetation easement | Permit |
| Trees on public property or right-of-way | Prior City approval; fines up to three times the trees' assessed value |
How many you can remove in a year
For residential lots outside shorelines, critical areas and buffers. A permit is still required within these limits.
| Lot size | Max removed per year without replacement | Trees that must remain |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10,000 sq ft | 1 landmark or 2 significant | 2 |
| 10,001 to 20,000 sq ft | 1 landmark or 3 significant | 3 |
| 20,001 to 40,000 sq ft | 1 landmark or 4 significant | 4 |
| Over 40,000 sq ft | 1 landmark or 4 significant | 8 |
Within these limits a residential lot needs no replacement planting, as long as the minimum trees remain. Hazard trees, confirmed by a qualified tree professional, fall outside both the limits and the replanting rule. Bridle Trails now follows the same citywide rules.
Applying, and what to ask the tree company
The "tree removal only" permit is filed on MyBuildingPermit.com: application type Clearing and Grading, project type Single Family Residential, activity Landmark or Significant Tree Removal Only. You need:
- A site plan (the City's Site Plan B form) showing which significant and landmark trees come out, plus replanting locations, species and size if replanting applies.
- For a hazard tree, a report from a qualified tree professional under LUC 20.20.900.C.3, with a tree hazard declaration and basic tree assessment. The City accepts ISA certified arborists, ISA municipal specialists, ISA board certified master arborists, ASCA registered consulting arborists and SAF certified foresters.
- A preconstruction meeting with the Clearing and Grading inspector before work starts.
This permit does not cover trees in critical areas, buffers or setbacks, or in protected easements; those go through the separate Clearing and Grading in Critical Areas permit. Trees taken out as part of a building project are handled on that building permit.
Ask the company who files the permit and site plan, whether its arborist holds one of the listed credentials, and who books the inspection. Get the permit number before the saws come out, and check the company's Washington contractor registration on L&I (Bellevue contractor license lookup); 19 of the tree firms in our file had a matched registration that was expired or otherwise not active.
What Bellevue's tree permits show
| Measure | Bellevue tree removal |
|---|---|
| Permits, October 2023 to September 2026 | 630 |
| Firms | 136 |
| Firms with a permit in the last 12 months | 94 |
| Reached final (permits a year or more old) | 36.9% |
| Finished share, 10th to 90th percentile of firms with 10+ permits | 19.6% to 54.0% |
| Firms with matched registration not active | 19 (14.0%) |
| Busiest / quietest month | July (149) / September (74) |
Tree permits are the Bellevue trade where finals are rarest. Even the 90th-percentile busy firm closed only 54.0% of its permits, so an open tree permit is normal here rather than a red flag on its own; what matters is that a permit exists before the tree comes down. The registration check matters more in this trade than most: 14.0% of firms had a lapsed or inactive match. Filing peaks in July.
See every Bellevue tree service by permit record →
Find a past permit on your lot: Bellevue building permit search. Totals by year: Bellevue permit statistics. Permit timing across trades: how long a Bellevue permit takes.
What this does not tell you
Bellevue's tree permits carry no job value, so we cannot price removals. Our counts are permits filed, not trees removed. The City's pages do not list the fee; use its Permit Fee Estimator or call the Permit Center, 425-452-4898.
How we know this
Thresholds, limits, hazard-tree and right-of-way rules are from the City of Bellevue Tree Removal page (modified 6 May 2025) and Tree Removal Only Permit page (modified 31 October 2025), read 23 October 2026. Permit counts are City of Bellevue permits classified as tree removal, October 2023 to September 2026; finished share uses permits a year or more old.
Numbers come from City of Bellevue permits on single-family homes and condo units, data through October 18, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Bellevue?
Yes, for a significant tree (6 inches or more in diameter, measured 4 feet above grade) or a landmark tree (generally 24 inches or more) on private property, and for any tree in a critical area or buffer, within 50 feet of a shoreline, or in a native growth protection area. The City says a permit is required even within the yearly limits.
- How many trees can I remove per year in Bellevue?
Outside critical areas and shorelines, on a residential lot up to 10,000 sq ft: 1 landmark or 2 significant trees a year without replacement, with at least 2 trees left. 10,001 to 20,000 sq ft: 1 landmark or 3 significant, 3 left. 20,001 to 40,000: 1 landmark or 4 significant, 4 left. Over 40,000: 1 landmark or 4 significant, 8 left.
- Can I remove a hazard tree in Bellevue without a permit?
Hazard trees are outside the yearly limits and replanting rules, but you still apply. The hazard must be confirmed by a qualified tree professional (ISA certified arborist or similar) with an arborist report. In a true emergency, document it with photos, contact Land Use if you can, and apply afterwards; if staff cannot verify the hazard, replacement and civil penalties may follow.
- What happens if I cut a street tree in Bellevue?
Trees on public property or the right-of-way, including next to your own lot, cannot be removed or cut back without prior approval. The City says penalties can include civil fines up to three times the assessed value of the trees, and possibly criminal charges.
- How long does a Bellevue tree permit take to close?
Many never formally do: only 36.9% of Bellevue tree permits a year or more old in our data reached a final, the lowest share of any Bellevue trade we track. Ask your tree company who schedules the City's inspection.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
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For one city
- Bellevue contractor license lookup: L&I registration, the permit search, and what the permits show
- Do I need a plumbing permit in Bellevue, WA? Fixtures, showers, water heaters and the homeowner rule
- Do I need a side sewer permit in Bellevue, WA? Repairs, replacements, the $216 and $757 fees and the inspection rules
- Tree Removal — City of Bellevue (modified 2025-05-06, accessed 2026-10-23)
- Tree Removal Only Permit — City of Bellevue Development Services (modified 2025-10-31, accessed 2026-10-23)