Forest Practices & Tree Removal

Tree removal near existing structures

Do I need a permit?

Tree removal within one-and-a-half tree lengths of an existing, permanent structure in the rural areas of Pierce County does not require a Forest Practices permit from either the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or from Pierce County.

Note: All tree removal must comply with Pierce County's critical areas and site development regulations. The landowner is responsible for determining if any permits or reviews are required before starting work.

Critical area review may be required to make sure the tree removal doesn’t negatively impact critical areas or their associated buffers. Critical areas include wetlands, streams, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and steep slopes. See Pierce County Code Title 18E for review requirements.
Site development review may be required for the proposed tree removal as well as for the removal of understory vegetation or stumps. See Pierce County Code Title 17A for review requirements.

Forest Practices (logging) in unincorporated Pierce County are regulated by the State Forest Practices Act (Chapter 76.09 RCW) and Rules (Title 222 WAC) and by Title 18H, Pierce County Development Regulations—Forest Practices. Forest practices involve the harvest of merchantable timber (examples include, Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, big leaf maple, and red alder). Forest practices permits are issued in unincorporated Pierce County by either the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or by the Pierce County Planning and Public Works Department:

Class II and Class III Forest Practices Permits

$100 application fee

Issued by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for commercial logging operations (non-conversion activities), involving clear cutting or thinning operations. No public notice. A 6-Year Development Moratorium is imposed by Pierce County on the proposed harvest area identified in the Class II or Class III forest practices permit, unless an approved Conversion Option Harvest Plan (COHP) has first been obtained from Pierce County.

Class IV General Forest Practices Permits

Issued by Pierce County Planning & Public Works in association with development (conversion) activities. Required when logging operation, which would otherwise be classified as a Class II or Class III forest practice takes place on:

Land in an Urban Growth Area (UGA) or County Urban Growth Area (CUGA); or
in association with the development (conversion) of forest land to a non-forestry use.
Examples include, but are not limited to, agricultural, residential, commercial, and/or industrial development.

Class IV - General Forest Practices Permit

A Class IV-General Forest Practices (logging) permit may be required to cut down trees on your property in association with clearing and development activities.

When is a Class IV-General Forest Practices Permit Required in URBAN areas?

When logging more than 5,000 board feet (approximately 1 ½ truckloads or 10 cords of wood) of merchantable timber on a parcel, regardless of the parcel size and regardless of whether the landowner is converting their property.

Environmental review in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is required when more than 5,000 board feet is harvested from a parcel over two acres in size from contiguous parcels owned by the same owner and whose total acreage is equal to or greater than two acres. SEPA review is not required for a Class IV-General Forest Practices permit when more than 5,000 board feet is harvested from a parcel or contiguously owned parcels less than two acres in size.

When is a Class IV-General Forest Practices Permit Required in RURAL areas?

When logging more than 5,000 board feet of merchantable timber on a parcel equal to or greater than two acres in size or on contiguous parcels under the same ownership whose total acreage is equal to or greater than two acres. Environmental review in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is required for all Class IV-General Forest Practices permit applications in the rural areas of the country.

In addition, a Class IV-General Forest Practices application in the rural areas must be associated with a “parent” permit application, such as site development, building, use or subdivision.

Type A

Type A review is required when the proposed development/project has not, and is not currently, undergoing State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review.

Application Checklist

Site Plan

Environmental Checklist (SEPA Review)

Class-IV General Forest Practices Application

Ready to submit?

Type B

Type B review is required when the proposed development/project, including the proposed logging, is currently undergoing SEPA review, or has already had a SEPA determination issued.

Application Checklist

Site Plan

Class-IV General Forest Practices Permit

Ready to submit?

Conversion Option Harvest Plan (COHP)

A Conversion Option Harvest Plan - (COHP) is a timber harvest plan developed by the landowner indicating the limits of timber harvest, road construction and County-regulated critical areas. The COHP must first be submitted to Pierce County for review and approval before submitting an application to the DNR for a forest practices permit.
Compliance with an approved COHP releases the property from the otherwise mandatory six-year development moratorium, associated with a forest practices permit issued by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The COHP must comply with the general requirements of Section 18H.20.050 of Pierce County Code Title 18H, Forest Practices, and the applicable requirements of Pierce County Code Title 18E, Critical Areas, and Title 17A, Site Development and Storm Drainage.

COHP Fact Sheet

Application Checklist

Site Plan

Property Posting

COHP Forest Practices Permit Application

Written Narrative

Ready to submit?

Hazard, Danger, Diseased Tree Removal

This application may be required when the trees of concern are in a designated Open Space Area, Natural Buffer Area, a screening buffer or a Tree Conservation area. This application is not used when the trees are in a wetland, wetland buffer or stream buffer.

Questions relating to hazard, danger or diseased tree removal in wetlands, wetland buffers or stream buffers should be directed to (253) 798-7005.

Hazard or Danger trees in the Pierce County right-of-way (ROW) can be reported using the Request for Action form at piercecountywa.gov/rfa. Select "Tree Down" or "Tree Removal" in the Problem Type field.

Application Checklist

Hazard/Danger/Diseased Tree Report

Ready to submit?