(Portland, OR) –
Vibrant Communities Commissioner Dan Ryan has directed Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Urban Forestry team to extend fee waivers for storm-related retroactive tree permit applications through March 8, 2024.
This two-week extension is meant to continue relief for property owners who experienced storm-related tree damage during the January declared emergency weather event. We know many property owners are experiencing hardships due to the recent storm and the Commissioner and PP&R want to relieve as much burden as possible.
Commissioner Ryan had previously directed fees waived through February 23. However, due to the volume of fee waiver requests, an extension of the deadline is necessary; more time is needed to give property owners relief from the hardship many are enduring due to the impact of the storm.
The extension through March 8 applies to property owners submitting retroactive tree permit applications due to fallen trees or branches during the severe January weather event. They will not be required to pay the City’s standard retroactive tree removal or replanting application fees. Tree permit application fee requirements may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis for future weather events.
With the high volume of tree work needed citywide, local tree care companies are busy. The extension gives property owners more time to initate follow-up tree work and associated permitting ahead of the new deadline of March 8.
To better serve people seeking tree permits, Urban Forestry staff continue to offer expanded walk-in services for those who prefer to come in person. More information on how to receive a refund or submit tree permit applications is available at portland.gov/trees/treepermits Property owners should contact trees@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-TREE (8733) in the coming days for more information. While this number goes to a voicemail recording system, staff are diligently working to reply to all messages quickly, generally within three business days. More information and support is available online here.
PP&R’s Urban Forestry team will continue to provide emergency response for this weather event as there is still a lot of work to do to clear roadways and remove fallen trees and limbs.
Tree emergency dispatch is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call 503-823-TREE (8733), then select Option 1. This will connect you to a 311 dispatcher for tree emergency response. Tree emergencies are tree or limb failures blocking or threatening the public right-of-way or a City property.