When is a pruning permit required?

• Street trees: A permit is required to prune any tree in the City right-of-way, which is typically between the curb and sidewalk. No permit is required for pruning branches less than 1/2 inch in diameter at attachment to the stem.
• Private trees: A permit is required to prune native trees in c, p, or v overlay zones. Click here for private tree pruning permits. 
• Heritage trees: A permit is required to prune any Heritage tree.

Root Pruning for City and Street trees require a permit. Root Pruning permits have a different process. For specifics, visit Root Pruning .

 

If you wish to report a street tree that needs pruning, visit Tree Code Violations.

 

Request a pruning inspection and permit

Apply online at https://devhub.portlandoregon.gov/

 

Have the following information available:

• The address of the site
• The location of the trees on the site (i.e. if it is a corner lot, name the street where the trees are for inspection)
• The number of trees you request an inspection for
• Your name, phone number, and relationship to the property (i.e. if you are a contractor or the property owner, etc.)

Timeline

Tree pruning permits requiring an inspection take 4-6 weeks to process. Incomplete applications will delay the process.

Some street tree pruning permits can be self-issued online.

Pruning permits are valid for 30 days.

 

Are you eligible for a self-issued online permit?

Street tree pruning permits may be self-issued online at https://devhub.portlandoregon.gov/ if the tree to be pruned meets the following conditions:

• Pruning is for branches less than 6" in diameter at attachment to the stem. 
• Pruning is for young tree pruning, crown cleaning or crown raising for clearance of the street and sidewalk (7.5' above the sidewalk, 11' above residential streets, and 14' over arterial streets).
• The street tree is not a Heritage Tree.

Young tree pruning is the pruning of young trees to develop good structure, including a strong and well-established central leader, strong branch attachments, and adequate spacing and distribution of scaffold branches. Young tree pruning occurs on an ongoing basis the first ten years after tree planting.

Crown cleaning is the removal of water sprouts and dead, dying, diseased, crowded, weakly attached, and low vigor branches from a tree's crown.

Crown raising for clearance of the street and sidewalk removes the lower branches of a tree in order to provide clearance for vehicles, pedestrians, and buildings. The City of Portland requires maintaining clearance standards 7.5' above the sidewalk, 11' above residential streets, and 14’ above main arterial streets.

Learn how to prune a tree

Other types of pruning may be permitted for street trees; however, they require a tree inspection and a permit issued by a City Tree Inspector. Self-issued online permits are only valid for trees that meet the above conditions.

 

Pruning Permit with inspection

If any of the following apply, a pruning permit may NOT be self-issued and an inspection is required prior to a permit being issued.

• Pruning is for crown restoration, weight reduction, clearing infrastructure such as buildings or utility lines, or crown reduction.
• Pruning is for  branches greater than 6" in diameter.
• The tree is a Heritage Tree.

Pruning permit with inspection application and instructions

Only an owner of the property abutting the planting strip, or the owner's designee, may apply for a street tree pruning permit. Request a street tree pruning permit one of the following ways:

• On-line at https://devhub.portlandoregon.gov (preferred)
• Download the Tree Pruning Application, fill it out and submit to Urban Forestry in one of the following ways:
  • Submit a Tree Pruning Application by mail to Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry, 1900 SW 4th Ave. Suite 5000, Portland, OR 97201
    • Include fee payment as a check or money order payable to “City of Portland”

 

After the application has been received, an Urban Forestry Tree Inspector will visit the site to inspect the tree and assess the pruning needs. After the site visit, the Tree Inspector will send the applicant the pruning permit. The pruning permit will describe the recommended pruning activities. 

 

Qualifying for a permit

All pruning work must meet PP&R's Urban Forestry Street Tree Pruning Standards. Pruning done without a permit or pruning that does not meet the standards may be treated as a code violation and be subject to civil and criminal penalties and tree replacement.

It is recommended that you hire a certified arborist to do the tree pruning. 

 

Elm Tree Pruning

 

In order to limit the spread of Dutch elm disease and comply with Oregon's state quarantine of elm wood, the following rules apply to the pruning of elm trees (Ulmus spp.):

• Elm trees shall not be pruned from April 15 through October 15 annually.
• Pruning tools shall be treated with a disinfectant before and after pruning individual elm trees.
• All wood waste shall be chipped or taken to an approved commercial disposal site within 24 hours of cutting.

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