Background
Implemented in 2015, Portland's Tree Code provides a comprehensive and streamlined set of regulations to protect, preserve, and enhance Portland's urban forest. It grants the City the authority to regulate trees as City infrastructure to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
The Tree Code is one of several tools the City uses to help achieve the goals of the Portland Urban Forest Plan. With a new Portland Urban Forest Plan adopted in October 2025, it is time to review the Tree Code and check for alignment with our community's vision, goals, and priorities for Portland's urban forest.
How will we identify code changes?
This process builds on community feedback from the Portland Urban Forest Plan and the successes of past code amendments. It is also an opportunity to ensure the Tree Code remains responsive to current challenges and community priorities.
Key elements include:
- Equitable Tree Canopy: Improve tree preservation and planting and reduce disparities in tree canopy cover so all Portlanders can benefit from trees.
- Sustainable Urban Design and Affordable Housing: Encourage development that provides affordable housing and supports healthy people and ecosystems.
- Health and Climate Resilience: Ensure the code supports a healthy and resilient urban forest and a community prepared for extreme heat, storms, wildfire, and new tree pests and diseases.
- Roles and Responsibilities: Align the code with recent changes to the City's governance and organizational structure and ensure roles and responsibilities for implementing the code are clearly defined.
- User friendliness: Simplify tree regulations, where possible, and provide resources to help permit applicants.
The process includes research, analysis, and many conversations with community and staff.
Opportunities to Get Involved
Community and City staff input are critical to this project. It is especially important for Portlanders who are most impacted by code changes to have a voice in this process.
- Share your concerns and suggestions using the comment form below.
- Stay tuned for an opportunity for public review of the proposed changes.
- Learn about the project or submit a comment at an Urban Forestry Commission meeting. Project presentation dates will be posted once agendas are set.
In addition to the above opportunities, staff will meet with interested groups and historically underrepresented community members to make sure we hear from people who live in different parts of the city and who interact with the Tree Code in different ways.
Stay Informed
This project will use Tree Bark, Urban Forestry's bi-monthly, digital newsletter to share project updates.
Sign up for Tree Bark to stay in the loop
Share a Comment
Please share any comments, concerns, or suggestions about tree regulations you'd like Portland staff to consider as we make changes to the tree code.
Timeline
The process will take about two years to complete. This timeline is needed to assess the impacts of proposed code changes and ensure changes are informed by diverse perspectives.
Phase 1: Confirm challenges and explore alternatives (Winter to Summer 2026)
During Phase 1, we will:
- Research how other cities regulate trees.
- Listen to staff and community members to confirm challenges with the existing code and discuss ways to improve the code and make it easier to follow.
Phase 2: Refine amendments and assess impacts (Summer 2026 to Early Winter 2027)
During phase 2, we will:
- Create and refine a set of code updates through discussions with staff and community members most impacted by the tree code.
- Consider the impacts of proposed code changes to public health, tree canopy, housing, and the economy to help us refine the list of updates.
Phase 3: Host public reviews and revise amendments (Spring to Fall 2027)
During Phase 3, we will:
- Share the proposed code changes with Portlanders for feedback
- Revise code changes based on public input.
- Recommend code changes to City Council for adoption.
Contact TreePolicyComments@portlandoregon.gov with questions.