The purpose of the clearing and grading permit is to help protect water and earth resources, fish and wildlife habitat and public health and safety from potential adverse impacts associated with clearing and grading activities.
Before you start any project that includes clearing and grading, removal of landmark trees (minimum 24 inches in diameter at breast height) and/or significant trees (minimum 6 inches in diameter at breast height) or tree pruning, installation of rockeries or landscape walls, or work in a protected area, customers should check to see if a permit is needed for the project.
Please note, only licensed contractors may remove landmark trees. The licensed contractor's name, address, phone number and current and valid Washington State contractor registration number must be provided before permit issuance.
Commercial and Multifamily Clearing and Grading Permits
- Commercial Clearing and Grading: Clearing and grading associated with a building permit, removal and installation of underground storage tanks, major changes to nonresidential landscaping, walls, or rockeries that don’t require a building permit, roadway and utility installations, removal of significant trees and other permitted clearing and grading activities in critical areas that require State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review. (GD)
- Nonresidential Landscape and Vegetation Clearing and Grading: Removal of significant trees, landmark trees, vegetation management or changes to landscaping associated with a nonresidential, multifamily residential, or other property developed under a Planned Unit Development (PUD). Also, minor clearing and grading work. (GB)
- Plat Infrastructure: For clearing and grading associated with infrastructure construction on an approved preliminary plat, short plat, or PUD. Infrastructure includes roads and streets, frontage improvements, water, sewer, storm drainage, dry utilities and plat landscaping. (GE)
Residential Clearing and Grading Permits
- Clearing and Grading in Critical Areas: Clearing and grading activities conducted within a critical area or critical area buffer, or removal of significant trees, landmark trees, vegetation or landscape changes on property that contains Retained Vegetation Areas (RVA) or RVAs that are not within a critical area or critical area buffer. (GJ)
- Minor Clearing and Grading: Clearing and grading on a single-family property not combined with a building permit, including landscape changes, construction of rockeries and modular block walls. May include removal of significant trees and/or landmark trees in addition to site work. (GA)
- Tree Removal Only: For removal of landmark and/or significant trees only on a single-family property not combined with a building permit or other clearing and grading work, not within the public right-of-way, not within a critical area, buffer, or setback, and not within a protected Native Growth Protection Area (NGPA) or RVA easement or tract. (GT)