Take action
Saw a tree notice? Here's how to respond.
The City of Seattle — not this site — decides whether a tree can come down. This guide sends you to the right City office for what you're seeing, and tells you what to have ready.
Trees being cut right now?
If there's no notice posted, or work started before the posted date, call SDCI's Violation Complaint Line. Phone is best for anything time-sensitive.
Find the right channel
You have a question about a posted notice
Ask SDCI's tree team directly
SDCI staff answer tree questions by email or through the City's request form. Quote the notice number so they can find the record quickly.
The removal is tied to a land use or construction permit
Check whether the permit is open for public comment
Only some permits — mainly those that go through land use review — have a formal comment period or appeal right. Look up the related permit number to see its current status.
Trees are being cut with no notice posted, or before the posted date
Report a possible violation
Use the Violation Complaint Line for anything time-sensitive. Describe where on the property the work is happening, what you see, and how long it has been going on.
You want to weigh in on Seattle's tree rules overall
Speak to the people who shape the policy
The Urban Forestry Commission advises the Mayor and Council and takes public comment at its meetings. Code changes go through the City Council.
Before you contact the City
- The notice number (it ends in TN) and the street address
- The related permit number, if the notice lists one
- Photos of the posted notice and the trees, with the date taken
- What you're asking — information, a comment, or a report of work in progress
Every notice page on this site has an email button that fills in the notice number, address and dates for you. Find a notice.
Reading a notice
- Earliest proposed work date
- The first day work may start — not a deadline to respond. Removals need 6 business days of posted notice; other reportable work needs 3.
- Comment or appeal deadline
- Only shown when the City publishes one. Most stand-alone tree notices have no comment period; permits that go through land use review may.
- Related permit
- If a notice is tied to a construction or land use permit, that permit is where review and any appeal rights live.
- Tree service provider
- Companies doing commercial tree work in Seattle must be on the City's Tree Service Provider Registry, and the notice names them.
City contacts
- SDCI tree questions
- sdci-trees@seattle.gov
- Questions & free interpretation
- (206) 233-5185
- Violation Complaint Line
- (206) 615-0808
- Complaints by mail
- SDCI Code Compliance, 700 Fifth Ave, Suite 2200, Seattle, WA 98104
Official sources: the City's Tree Public Notice Map, the Tree Protection Code (SMC 25.11), and SDCI Trees & Codes. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice is required before a tree is removed in Seattle?
Under SDCI's tree rules, a notice must be posted at least 6 business days before a tree removal, and 3 business days before other reportable tree work. It stays posted for 5 days after the work.
Is the earliest proposed work date a deadline to comment?
No. It is the first day work may begin. Most stand-alone tree notices have no public comment or appeal period; comment and appeal rights usually come from a related land use permit. Seattle Canopy Watch only shows a deadline when the City publishes one.
Can I appeal a Seattle tree removal?
Only when the removal is part of a permit decision that has appeal rights, typically a land use decision. Check the notice's related permit number and follow SDCI's how-to-appeal guidance for that permit.
Who do I contact with a question about a tree notice?
Email SDCI at sdci-trees@seattle.gov or call (206) 233-5185, and include the notice number shown on the posting.
How do I report tree cutting that may be illegal in Seattle?
Call SDCI's violation line at (206) 615-0808 if cutting is happening now, or file a property complaint with SDCI. Note the address, time, and any company name or registration number you can see.
Who regulates street trees in Seattle?
Trees in the public right-of-way, such as planting strips, are regulated by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Urban Forestry, not by SDCI tree notices.
Where does Seattle Canopy Watch get its data?
From the City of Seattle's SDCI Tree Public Notice feed and SDCI permit tree records, collected in full every day. Every change to a record is kept as history.
Who runs Seattle Canopy Watch?
Seattle Canopy Watch is an independent public tracker made possible by Serpens Inc.. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Seattle.