Urban Forestry Code and Policy

What is Title 11?

Title 11 is the City's Tree Code. It was adopted by City Council in 2011, went into effect January 1, 2015, and serves as Portland's first unified Tree Code to regulate the preservation, removal, planting and pruning of certain trees across public and private property- in development and non-development situations. See Sections 11.05.010 and 11.50.010 for more information on the purpose of Title 11.

Related to Title 11 is the Portland Urban Forest Plan (UFP). The Portland UFP is the City's overarching policy and vision for tree infrastructure. Title 11 is an implementation tool of the Portland UFP.

The 7 goals of the Portland UFP are:

Goal 1: Equitably, preserve, restore, and expand Portland's urban forest to support biodiversity and improve community health and safety.

Goal 2: Prioritize the needs of underserved communities in urban forest planning, programming, and services.

Goal 3: Implement a comprehensive, citywide, and City-managed street tree maintenance program.

Goal 4: Prioritize trees and landscaping in policies, plans, and projects to enhance the city's livability and habitat connectivity, and to develop a unique sense of place.

Goal 5: Provide programs and education about trees and tree care that are responsive to community-identified needs, accessible to all Portlanders, and empower residents to be active stewards.

Goal 6: Build relationships and improve coordination with community organizations and residents and within local government to grow and care for the urban forest.

Goal 7: Actively manage and evaluate the urban forest and adapt practices to maintain forest health, preserve habitat, and respond to the impacts of climate change.

Title 11 Code Amendment Projects

2022 Technical Amendment Project: Complete

2024 Large Tree Amendment Update: Complete

2026 Title 11 Amendment Project: In development

Why an amendment process?

Regular review and updates to the City Tree Code are an important aspect of good urban forest management. Likewise, updates to the Portland UFP are important to address changes relative to climate, development, canopy health and distribution, and best practices of urban infrastructure.

Over the course of the 10 years that Title 11 has been in effect, the Tree Code has been reviewed and evaluated formally by oversight committees comprised of various stakeholders. Additionally, public input has been gathered through various community engagement processes and as a result of input collected during previous code review and amendment projects involving both internal and external stakeholders.

The current amendment process came about on the heels of the last major amendment process brought before Council in 2020. At that time, while Council was considering two amendments related to preservation of trees during development situations, Council recognized that other updates were overdue and directed PP&R Urban Forestry to lead this effort in collaboration with the Bureaus of Permitting & Development and Planning & Sustainability.

What is the timeline for this process?

• Phase 1 (2021 – 2022) : Technical and minor policy Title 11 amendments​
• Phase 2 (2023 – 2025)​: Portland Urban Forest Plan (UFP) update​
• Phase 3 (2025 – 2027)​: Portland UFP-informed amendments​

Phase 1 addressed technical and minor policy amendments. The proposed changes provided clarity, resolved inconsistencies with other city codes, and improved the efficiency of implementation. More substantive amendments were set aside to be considered in Phase 3.

​Phase 2 updated the Portland UFP. It included significant outreach and engagement with partner bureaus, stakeholders, and the community over about two years. Phase 2 required new resources including staff.

Phase 3 will develop more-substantive amendment proposals. Importantly, Phase 3 also builds upon and is informed by the updated Portland UFP completed in Phase 2.​

This scope of work follows the City Auditor's recommendation published in the 2017 Tree Code Implementation Audit Report, that substantive amendment proposals be based on an updated Portland UFP.

Title 11 Administrative Rule Projects

PRK 2.07 Reduced Minimum Tree Planting Size: Complete (effective November 1, 2025)

A full list of adopted Urban Forestry policies is available here: Portland Policy Documents