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1. Why does the City require street trees?

All trees provide benefits, such as stormwater retention and erosion control, wildlife habitat, and reduced energy consumption. A public / street tree is a community-owned tree that grows on City property. Often, they are located adjacent to your home in a planter strip or median between the sidewalk and the street. When planter strips are not present, they may be planted near the street pavement or behind a sidewalk. Though the City does not encourage removal of public / street trees, sometimes it is necessary.

2. What are the benefits of Street Trees?

Planting a public / street tree can provide an abundance of benefits, not just environmental! For example, a recent study by the City of Portland found that a tree with a canopy cover of 312 square feet (the average for the study) adds $7,593 in value to the house it fronts. Trees also positively influence the values of houses within 100 feet. On average, there are 7.6 houses within 100 feet of a street tree. A tree with 312 square feet of canopy cover adds, on average, $9,241 to the value of neighboring houses.

3. When is a tree removed?

Tree removal is a last resort!

There are, however, circumstances when it is warranted. Removal may be indicated when a tree is:

• Listed as Invasive non-native, nuisance, prohibited, or noxious vegetation according to Oregon City's Nuisance Plant List (PDF).
• Assessed as Dead, diseased, or hazardous by a Certified Arborist
• Causes hazardous conditions that are impossible to mitigate by other means
• Causes crowding or harm to other trees
• Replaced by a more suitable specimen
• Located in a construction or development site which does not allow for its safe retention
• Creates a mobility hazard that can not be adequately repaired without removing the tree

4. When do I need a Certified Arborist Report? Why?

A Certified Arborist can help decide whether a public / street tree should be removed, and how to best accomplish the removal in a manner that is safe to people, property, and the community. Certified Arborists have the skills and equipment to safely and efficiently remove trees.

A Certified Arborist Report is only needed under certain circumstances, however. You do not need one if your sidewalk is buckled due to tree root growth, creating a sidewalk mobility hazard, or if the tree is obviously dead or has already fallen over. We request that you include photos of circumstances like these with your tree removal and replacement application.

A Certified Arborist Report is most often necessary when determining if trees that are not obviously dead or fallen are indeed dead, dying, diseased, and/or hazardous and thus subject to removal and 1-for-1 replacement.

Our webpage about Certified Arborists contains several helpful resources. It is strongly recommended when seeking a Certified Arborist that you hire a reputable company with current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification. All contractors working in Oregon City must also have a valid business license.