Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in South King County?

Before you cut down a tree in South King County, check your city's rules. Most cities in our service area regulate removal of larger, healthy trees on private property, with significant fines for violations. This guide walks through what each of the six cities we serve requires — Maple Valley, Kent, Enumclaw, Covington, Black Diamond, and Auburn — so you can plan the job (and the paperwork) before our crew arrives.

Quick summary. Hazard trees, dead trees, and trees under a city-defined size threshold can usually come down without a formal permit, though most cities still ask for a simple notification or arborist letter. Healthy trees above the threshold, trees in critical areas (steep slopes, wetlands, streams), and significant or landmark trees almost always require a permit before removal.

Maple Valley. The City of Maple Valley regulates tree removal on developed residential lots through its tree code (Maple Valley Municipal Code Title 18). Healthy trees over a certain DBH (diameter at breast height) typically require a tree-removal permit, with replacement planting required. Hazard trees can be removed with an ISA-certified arborist report. Start at the Community Development counter or maplevalleywa.gov.

Kent. The City of Kent requires a tree-removal permit for significant trees (generally 6" DBH and larger for conifers, 8" for deciduous) on most residential and commercial properties, with stricter rules in critical areas. Hazard trees still require documentation. See KentWA.gov, Planning Services for the current application.

Enumclaw. The City of Enumclaw is more permissive on standard residential lots, but trees in shoreline, wetland, or steep-slope critical areas, and any street trees in the public right-of-way, require approval. Always check before removing a street tree. CityOfEnumclaw.net has current forms.

Covington. The City of Covington regulates significant trees and tree clusters, especially in newer plats with HOA covenants and in critical areas. Many removals require a permit and a replacement tree. Start at CovingtonWA.gov, Community Development.

Black Diamond. The City of Black Diamond protects significant trees on residential and commercial parcels and has detailed rules in newer master-planned developments like Ten Trails. Check with the city's Community Development department at BlackDiamondWA.gov before any removal.

Auburn. The City of Auburn requires a Significant Tree Removal Permit for healthy trees above the city's diameter threshold on most lots, plus replanting. Street trees and trees in critical areas have additional requirements. AuburnWA.gov, Community Development handles applications.

Unincorporated King County. If your property has a King County address (not inside a city), King County's critical-areas code applies. Most rural-zoned single-family lots can remove a limited number of trees per year without a permit, but critical areas (slopes >40%, wetlands, streams) and forested zones have stricter rules. See kingcounty.gov, Permits & Inspections.

What we do. Cloudy Sky provides ISA-style arborist letters for hazard-tree removals, helps you complete city permit applications, and schedules the removal after approval. Call us before you start the permit process — getting the documentation right the first time can save weeks.

Disclaimer: rules change. This guide is a starting point, not legal advice. Always verify the current code with your city's permit office before any removal.