Street trees have special status in the city and cannot be planted, pruned, or removed without a permit. A street tree is defined as any tree planted on public right-of-way – usually in the strip of grass between the sidewalk and curb. When there is no curb or sidewalk, street tree classification is determined by the boundary between the street right-of-way and the private property line. Call the Parks & Recreation office at 509.527.4527 for permission and a permit prior to beginning any work on a street tree.
We want to make sure you do street tree work safely and correctly while keeping our tree inventory up to date.
You need a permit before planting a tree in order to ensure you are planting the correct species. You can avoid many sidewalk damage, tree health, and utility line problems by following the “right tree, right place” philosophy. Homeowners planting trees can also receive a guide to proper tree care.
You can download and print the permit form below, then fill it out and send it to the Parks and Recreation Department. We will inspect your proposed planting site or tree work, and the Municipal Arborist will contact you.
Tree and Planting Strip Finder
Type in an address in the map search box and hit enter to zoom to your area of interest. Click on the green tree dots or planting strips for detailed information.
TREE CLASSES
- CLASS I - SMALL TREES Heights up to 25’, for planting strips 3’ to 5’ wide.
- CLASS II - MEDIUM TREES Heights from 25’ - 50’, for planting strips 5’ to 8’ wide without overhead power lines.
- CLASS III - LARGE TREES Heights from 50’ - 70’, for planting strips 8’ to 15’ wide.
- CLASS IV - VERY LARGE TREES Heights from 70’ or more ,for planting strips 15’ wide or more without overhead power lines.
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DISCLAIMER: The City of Walla Walla does not warrant, guarantee or accept any liability for the accuracy, precision or completeness of any information shown or described heron or for any inferences made therefrom. Any use made of this information is solely at the risk of the user.
History
The City of Walla Walla takes great pride in our community trees – whether on public land or private property. In order to properly manage the City’s urban forest, the City created the Urban Forest Management Plan to do the following:
- Educate the public on the value and proper care of trees.
- Encourage planting on public and private property
- Involve the public in major decisions through the Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Advisory Board
- Report on forestry activities regularly.
City's Tree Code and Urban Forest Management Plan
