It is the intent of this chapter to establish a Heritage Tree Program to provide protection, recognition, foster appreciation, and inspire awareness for the contribution that Tacoma’s mature trees make to the community. Heritage tree designation helps the City achieve a greater overall tree canopy to preserve the scenic beauty and natural environment of Tacoma, prevent erosion and sedimentation in waterways, encourage quality development, provide shade and wildlife habitat, counteract pollutants in the air, reduce heat island effects, and decrease wind velocities and noise. Designation of heritage trees connects the past to the present by preserving historic trees for the enjoyment of future generations.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)
This chapter shall apply to the nomination, designation and management of trees located within the corporate boundaries of the City that qualify for nomination for heritage tree designation.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)
A. 
Minimum qualifications. To qualify for nomination for heritage tree designation, the tree(s) must:
1. 
Healthy condition. Be in apparently healthy growing condition;
2. 
Minimum trunk diameter. Meet the minimum threshold trunk diameter;
3. 
Location. Be located within the corporate boundaries of the City; and,
4. 
Irreplaceable status. Be a tree, or collection of trees, that, because of exemplary size, age, cultural or historical significance, ecological value, or rarity, is considered irreplaceable.
B. 
Minimum trunk diameter. To qualify as a heritage tree, the minimum trunk diameter (DBH) must be a minimum of the lessor of 30 inches or 65 percent of the largest documented diameter for a tree of that species in Washington as established in the most recent edition of the publication “Champion Trees of Washington State” by author Robert Van Pelt, published by University of Washington Press.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)
A. 
Who may nominate a heritage tree.
1. 
Property owner. Any owner of property upon which a tree or collection of trees subject to nomination is located may apply for nomination of such tree(s) for heritage tree designation.
2. 
Consent of property owner. Any resident of the City of Tacoma, any City official (elected or appointed), any City employee, any member of a City of Tacoma committee, board or commission, with the signed written consent of the owner of property upon which the nominated tree, or collection of trees, is located, may apply for nomination of such tree(s) for heritage tree designation.
B. 
City consent. A nomination for heritage tree designation for a tree, or collection of trees, located on public property must be consented to in writing by the Director of the Department responsible for the management of the public property upon which the Tree is located, or by the City Manager.
C. 
Consent of other public entity. A nomination for heritage tree designation located on property owned or controlled by a public entity, other than the City, must be consented to in writing by a public official with authority to grant such consent on behalf of such public entity.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)
A. 
Application. Any person seeking to nominate a tree, or collection of trees, for heritage tree designation shall file a written application with the City’s Urban Forestry Program Section of the Environmental Services Department, utilizing the nomination forms approved by the Urban Forestry Program.
B. 
Contents of application. At a minimum, the nomination application form shall contain the following:
1. 
A narrative statement demonstrating that the nominated tree, or collection of trees, because of exemplary size, age, cultural or historical significance, ecological value, or rarity, is considered irreplaceable;
2. 
A narrative statement describing the physical condition and health of the nominated tree, or collection of trees;
3. 
A narrative statement, including the species and size (diameter of the tree trunk in inches, tree crown spread in feet, and tree height in feet), demonstrating that the nominated tree, or each tree in a nominated collection of trees, meets the minimum threshold diameter;
4. 
Photos of the tree, or collection of trees, including at least one aerial photo demarcating the location with enough description so that the tree, or collection of trees, can be positively identified;
5. 
Documentation, records or other information demonstrating ownership of the property upon which the tree is located;
6. 
If the applicant is the owner of the property upon which the nominated tree, or collection of trees, is located, a signed written statement attesting to the applicant’s ownership of the property; and,
7. 
If the applicant is not the owner of the property upon which the tree, or collection of trees, is located, a signed written statement of the owner of the property upon which the nominated tree, or collection of trees, is located consenting to the application for nomination for heritage tree designation and describing the tree, or collection of trees, that is subject to the nomination.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)
A. 
Review of application. All heritage tree nomination applications shall be reviewed by the City’s Urban Forestry Program Section of the Environmental Services Department to determine if the nominated tree, or collection of trees, meets the minimum qualifications set forth at TMC § 9.20.420 for heritage tree designation. All applications for trees located on public property must be reviewed and approved or denied by the City’s Urban Forestry Program; provided that, if the nominated tree or collection of trees is located on public property, the nomination must also be approved by the Department Director or his/her/their designee who has management authority over the property, or by a public official with authority to grant such consent on behalf of such public entity, where the tree, or collection of trees, is located.
B. 
Additional information; site inspection. The City’s Urban Forestry Program Section of the Environmental Services Department may request the applicant to provide any additional information reasonably necessary to determine if a nominated tree, or collection of trees, meets the minimum qualifications for designation as a heritage tree, and may condition approval upon receipt of such information and upon consent to a physical inspection of the nominated tree or collection of trees.
C. 
Approval. If it is determined that the nominated tree, or collection of trees, meets the minimum qualifications and is approved for heritage tree designation, such heritage tree designation shall remain in place until removal as provided in TMC § 9.20.460. Such approval shall be made in writing.
D. 
List and plaques. The City of Tacoma Urban Forestry Section of the Environmental Services Department shall maintain the list of designated heritage trees, which shall be made publicly available. In the case of public property, the Urban Forestry Section may place a plaque, or other such identification, on or near heritage trees.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)
A. 
Maintenance and protection. The City is responsible for the maintenance of designated heritage trees located on public real property owned by the City. For all other designated heritage trees, the owner of the property, including the abutting property in the case of heritage street trees, upon which the tree is located shall be responsible for maintenance of the designated heritage tree. All heritage trees located within the public right-of-way shall be protected during development as provided in TMC § 9.20.330.
B. 
Heritage tree retention – Public property.
1. 
Removal. A designated heritage tree on public property shall be retained and protected, and shall not be removed unless the designated heritage tree constitutes a hazard tree or nuisance tree and, when applicable, a permit for removal is authorized pursuant to TMC § 9.20.220.
2. 
Emergency. A designated heritage tree located on public property may also be removed pursuant to the emergency exemption provisions of TMC § 9.20.240.
C. 
Heritage tree retention – Private property. Ownership and responsibility for a designated heritage tree, or collection of trees, located on private property or on property owned or controlled by a public entity other than the City, shall remain with the property owner and does not become the property or responsibility of the City. A heritage tree designation does not prohibit a property owner from developing the property or removing a designated heritage tree or trees subject to compliance with the City of Tacoma’s land use regulations applicable to the development of the owner’s property. The property owner is encouraged to notify the City of Tacoma Urban Forestry Section of the Environmental Services Department prior to or upon removal of a designated heritage tree, so that the heritage tree registry can be updated.
(Ord. 28926 § 1, 2023-12-12; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28947, 2024-01-16)