Free Street Trees in Portland
Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry contractors will plant up to 1100 street trees in winter 2022-23 in Argay, Centennial, Cully, Glenfair, Hazelwood, Lents, Mill Park, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Portsmouth, St. John's, and Sumner. Trees will be planted in the public right-of-way planting strip, between the curb and sidewalk.
In addition to planting, contractors will water and maintain trees for the following three summers. After the third summer, trees become the responsibility of the adjacent property owner to maintain, which is the same for all street trees under Portland City Code 11.60.060.A.2.a.
Urban Forestry will continue surveying priority neighborhoods outlined in “Growing a More Equitable Urban Forest," to identify additional planting spaces. Additional neighborhoods include:
- Bridgeton
- Buckman
- Downtown
- East Columbia
- Eliot
- Hollywood
- Humboldt
- Kerns
- Montavilla
- Old Town/Chinatown
- Overlook
- Pearl
- Piedmont
- Powellhurst-Gilbert
- South Tabor
- Woodlawn
- Woodland Park
These neighborhoods have been identified as high-need for additional tree canopy. Street trees provide many services, including:
- Summer shade and cooling
- Reduced air and noise pollution
- Stormwater absorption
- More walkable neighborhoods
- Slower traffic speeds
- Stress reduction
- Beauty
Trees are funded by Portland’s Tree Planting and Preservation Fund, which is used to plant trees to compensate for those removed in property development and other situations. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Winter 2022-23 Planting Timeline
- Winter – Spring 2022: Sites surveyed for available planting spaces
- Summer 2022: Sites selected
- September 15 – October 17, 2022: Opt out period
- September 15, 2022: First notices are mailed to adjacent property owners
- October 1, 2022: Second notices are mailed to adjacent property owners
- October 17, 2022: Deadline for adjacent property owners to opt-out of planting
- November 2022 – March 2023: Trees planted
- May – October 2023, 2024, 2025: Trees watered and maintained by contractors
Información traducida | Thông tin đã dịch | Переведенная информация | 翻译信息 | Translated information
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503-823-2525 (Translation and Interpretation) | Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या | 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad | Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
I received a postcard about a Free Street Tree Planting Survey
Urban Forestry will continue surveying other priority neighborhoods outlined in “Growing a More Equitable Urban Forest." Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry contractors will plant up to 1500 street trees from November 2023 through March 2024.
If you received a Street Tree Planting Survey postcard, it means that your address will be surveyed for potential plantable space. Carefully selected planting sites will be marked in white along the adjacent curb.
If your address is eligible for planting this fall, you will receive notices in the mail around September 15 and October 1 when our survey is complete. These notices will provide more information on the purpose of the program, and instructions for opting out if you do not wish to receive a free street tree. Please note that opting out before receiving a notification in the mail is not possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a street tree?
A street tree is a tree that is planted on city property in the public right-of-way, usually between the sidewalk and the curb.
How do I know if I’m getting a street tree?
Carefully selected planting sites will be marked in white along the curb in front of your house. Property owners identified to receive free street trees will be sent two notification letters via mail in September and October.
Why are you planting street trees?
Trees provide essential services for all Portlanders. Street trees provide shade, cooling, reduced air and noise pollution, storm water absorption, more walkable neighborhoods, slower traffic speeds, stress reduction, and beauty.
Why are you planting in these neighborhoods?
These neighborhoods, along with others in East Portland, have been identified as high-need for additional tree canopy. West of the Willamette River, canopy cover is 56%. However, east of the Willamette River, where 80% of Portland’s residents live, canopy cover is only 21%. This means that the services and benefits of the urban forest are not accessible to many of Portland’s residents. For more information, see Portland’s citywide tree planting strategy, “Growing a More Equitable Urban Forest."
I received the eligibility notice but I don’t want a tree. How do I decline?
Two notification letters will be mailed in September and October to adjacent property owners identified to receive trees. You can decline the free street tree offer if you notify Urban Forestry no later than October 17, 2022.
Can people who didn't receive a letter get a free street tree?
Only property owners who are sent a notification letter are eligible for free street trees through this project. However, see this link for information on other City-sponsored tree planting programs.
Can I use this program to fulfill the planting requirements of a permit?
No, trees may not be used to fulfill the requirements of a permit.
When will the tree be planted?
Trees will be planted each year, between November and March.
Who pays for this?
This project is funded by the City’s Tree Planting and Preservation Fund. The fund is used to plant trees to compensate for those removed during property development and other situations.
How many trees will I receive?
Typically, 1-3 trees are planted per property frontage. Locations were marked in white paint and selected to avoid utility conflicts while providing 15-25’ spacing between trees.
What kind of tree will be planted?
Trees will be chosen from the City’s Approved Street Tree Planting List and will be appropriate for the right-of-way site. Trees are selected to be low maintenance and drought tolerant, maximizing the benefits trees provide to the neighborhood while minimizing conflicts with existing infrastructure.
Who will be planting the tree?
Trees will be planted by professional contractors on behalf of PP&R Urban Forestry.
Who will take care of the trees?
City-selected contractors will water, weed, and maintain the trees for three summers after planting. This maintenance includes critical watering to establish a healthy tree. After the third summer, tree maintenance becomes the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, which is the same for all street trees under Portland City Code 11.60.060.A.2.a.
What if the tree damages my utilities or sidewalks?
Trees are selected to be the appropriate size and species for the available space. This program operates in compliance with Portland's Approved Street Tree Planting Lists and Planting Specifications to reduce potential infrastructure damage. Different tree species are approved for different site sizes. Utility locates are completed twice prior to planting.
The adjacent property owner is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk at their property. More information on sidewalk repair can be found from the Portland Bureau of Transportation here.
What if I want to remove the tree?
A Tree Removal and Replant Permit will be required.
What happens if the tree dies?
If the tree dies during the three establishment years, it will be removed and replaced by the City’s contractor. If the tree dies after the three establishment years, the adjacent property owner is responsible for getting a permit to remove and replant the tree.
Can I make a special request?
It depends! Leave us a message at 503-823-4025 FreeTrees@portlandoregon.gov to discuss.
Can I have a tree planted in my yard?
This project is focused on planting trees in the public right-of-way. Urban Forestry provides free yard trees to Portland residents through our Yard Tree Giveaway Program.
Who is Urban Forestry?
Urban Forestry is a division of Portland Parks & Recreation. Urban Forestry's mission is to manage and ensure Portland's urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. Urban Forestry is committed to working with property owners, residents, contractors, and communities to enhance the urban forest and optimize the services that trees provide us all.
It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any city program, service, or activity on the grounds of race, color, national origin, disability, or other protected class status. Adhering to Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II civil rights laws, the City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities by reasonably providing: translation and interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, contact 503-823-2525, or for Relay Service or TTY, contact 711.
503-823-2525 (Translation and Interpretation) | Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या | 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad | Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas