ELM TREE PRUNING MORATORIUM is effective from April 15th - October 15th due to the spread of Dutch Elm Disease (DED).  To find out more about the moratorium, pruning restrictions and proper elm wood disposal procedures, click here.

During these challenging times, Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry division has an update on how the City of Portland’s trees and tree infrastructure will continue to be managed:

• Tree emergency response for public roads and City properties continues.
• All tree permitting applications are being accepted and processed.
• The Development Services Center (Permit Center) at 1900 SW 4th Avenue is closed.
• Tree planting, establishment, and other maintenance activities remain high service priorities.
• Urban Forestry community outreach and education programs are available online at Get Involved.

Please submit permit applications through DevHub or via mail:

Mailing Address:

PP&R Urban Forestry Division
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 5000
Portland, OR 97201

For questions, please contact Urban Forestry by:

Emailing: trees@portlandoregon.gov
Or
Calling the Tree Hotline: 503-823-TREE (8733)

Protecting everyone’s health and well-being is important. Following guidance from health officials, we have updated our procedures to help ensure the safety of our staff and Portland’s community members. We thank you for your patience and flexibility as we all adjust to a rapidly changing situation.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Permit Center 1st and 2nd floor customer areas will be temporarily CLOSED to the public starting Tuesday, March 17 until further notice. For detailed information on the Permit Center closure, please see the Bureau of Development Services website.

During this time, please submit permit applications through DevHub or via mail:

Mailing Address

PP&R Urban Forestry Division
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 5000
Portland, OR 97201

For questions, please contact Urban Forestry by:

Emailing trees@portlandoregon.gov
or
Calling the Tree Hotline at 503-823-TREE(8733) 

*While staff are teleworking, return phone calls may be delayed.  For general tree questions, please use email for best response times.

The City of Portland is seeking public input in response to recommendations by the Planning and Sustainability Commission and the Urban Forestry Commission to further strengthen tree preservation in City Code Title 11 Trees. In January 2020, City Council directed PP&R Urban Forestry, the Bureau of Development Services, and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to propose amendments addressing:

• Removing exemptions to tree preservation (and tree planting or “density requirements”) in industrial and commercial zones; and
• Reducing the size threshold when “inch for inch” mitigation kicks in when large trees are removed in private property development situations. Currently, the size threshold is 36" diameter at breast height (DBH) and the proposal is to reduce this threshold to 20” DBH.

The City will be conducting surveys and holding educational meetings to share analysis and research on this topic and inviting the views of community members.

For more information and meeting dates, please visit Bureau of Development Services Info Center at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/80501

Thursday hours at the Permit Center will be restored beginning March 5, 2020 following the launch of new database software. Beginning March 5, the Permit Center hours will be as follows:

Urban Forestry Walk-in Service Hours

Mon, Tues, Wed, and Fri: 8:00am – 12pm & 12:30pm – 3pm

Thurs: 8 am – 12pm 

Walk-in Service

Development Services Center (Permit Center) 1900 SW 4th Ave, 1st Floor Portland, OR 97201

Mailing address

PP&R Urban Forestry Division 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 5000 Portland, OR 97201

For information about online submittal of applications, please see instructions located here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/trees/79429