An arborist report is the written document a city asks for when a tree needs to come down and the code will not take a homeowner’s word for it. Our ISA Certified Arborists write residential reports across south King and north Pierce County — removal permit applications, hazard and tree risk documentation, street tree and right-of-way requests, and removals inside water buffers, on critical slopes, and within greenbelts. Every report is written by a certified arborist who has stood at the base of the tree, against the specific code section the reviewing city will apply.
Free on-site consultation · Reports prepared by ISA Certified Arborists
Residential Arborist Reports for Permits, Hazards & Right-of-Way
Almost every residential request lands in one of four buckets. If you are not sure which one applies to your tree, describe the situation on the phone and you will get a straight answer.
Tree Removal Permit Reports
The planning counter needs a document that identifies the tree, rates its condition, and explains why removal is justified under the code. We inventory the tree, photograph the defects, and write findings that map to the section your city reviews against.
Hazard & Tree Risk Assessments
Where the code requires a formal risk rating, the assessment is completed on ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification forms by a TRAQ-qualified arborist. Renton, Tacoma, Puyallup and Burien all name TRAQ in their codes, so a general opinion letter will not clear review. See tree risk assessment for how the inspection works.
Street Tree & Right-of-Way Reports
A tree in the planting strip belongs to the city, not to the address in front of it. Removal or pruning takes a separate right-of-way permit, and Tacoma requires the arborist’s license number on the report itself.
Buffers, Critical Slopes & Greenbelts
A hazardous tree standing in a water buffer, on a critical slope, or inside a greenbelt is regulated where the same tree out front would not be, and the permit application needs an arborist report behind it. We document the tree; we do not perform wetland delineation or geotechnical work.
Building, subdividing, or adding to a commercial property? That needs a tree retention plan rather than a homeowner report — see development arborist reports.
How a Residential Arborist Report Works
Four steps, and you know the cost before the report is written.
Consultation
Call with the address and describe the tree. We confirm which jurisdiction you are in and what that city requires before anyone is dispatched. Consultations are free.
On-Site Inspection
A certified arborist inspects the tree from the ground on all sides and records species, diameter at breast height, condition, structural defects, and the targets underneath it, photographing everything that supports the finding.
Advanced Assessment If Needed
Where a visual inspection cannot answer the question, we go further — root collar excavation, sounding, and decay detection to establish how much sound wood is actually left in the stem.
Written Report
You receive a report containing the tree inventory, condition ratings, labeled photographs, a site sketch, the finding, and the recommendation, written against the code section your city will review it under.
Permit Submittal
The report is yours to submit with your application. If the reviewer comes back with questions about our findings, we answer them.
What Your City Requires in an Arborist Report
The requirement is not uniform across the region, and the wording matters. Some cities require a licensed arborist, some a certified arborist, some a qualified professional, and four write the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification into the code by name. Open the panels below to see each jurisdiction’s rule beside its own adopted code, so you can verify it yourself.
What each city requires10 jurisdictions
| City | What the code requires of the arborist or the report | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn | Up to six trees per lot in any 12-month period need no clearing permit. Hazard trees are different: the code defines a hazard tree so that it requires a qualified arborist to evaluate the removal request, and reports must be prepared by a qualified professional. | ACC 15.74.050 · 16.10 |
| Kent | Retention rules apply to undeveloped property and new development. The inventory needs “a formalized finding by a licensed arborist” that every retained tree is healthy and compatible with the work. Kent says licensed, never certified. | KCC 15.08.240 |
| Federal Way | The tree and vegetation plan “must be prepared by a certified arborist or a certified landscape architect.” Federal Way regulates through the plan, and its code never uses the phrase “arborist report” at all. | FWRC 19.120 |
| Renton | A high-risk tree may only come down when “certified as such by an arborist with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)” — capped at three per year, landmark trees excluded. Renton is the only one of the ten that defines Arborist Report as a term with enumerated required contents, at RMC 4-8-120. | RMC 4-4-130 |
| Tacoma | There is no general private-property tree permit. Permits attach to critical areas, and to development activity in Urban Residential zones, where the code calls for “a Certified Arborist’s Report and Tree Protection Plan.” Removing a tree 6″ DBH or larger in those zones triggers a canopy loss fee, assessed at $130 per inch of DBH once a tree reaches 18″. Right-of-way work runs separately under TMC 9.20, where a hazardous tree must be designated by an ISA Certified Arborist who also holds TRAQ. | TMC 13.06.090 · 9.20 · Urban Forest Manual 2025 |
| Puyallup | Significant trees are “greater than 15 inches in diameter” — the highest threshold in the region. The exclusion matters more than the number: “Significant tree protections do not apply to lots containing single-family, duplex, triplex and multiple-family developments of four (4) or less units unless the significant tree is in a critical area.” Inside a critical area every tree is regulated regardless of size or species. “Prior to removal… must be evaluated by a certified arborist with a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ),” who “will provide a report with a tree risk assessment worksheet for inclusion with any permit application.” | City tip sheet, Rev. 02/2026 |
| Des Moines | Clearing under 2,000 sq ft outside regulated and shoreline areas needs no permit. “Dead, diseased or hazard trees, as determined… by a certified arborist” are exempt from an otherwise-required permit — here the arborist’s determination is the mechanism. | DMMC 16.25 |
| Burien | Burien writes TRAQ into the definition of a hazard tree: it must carry “a high to extreme risk rating using the… Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) method in its most current form.” Annual no-permit allowance scales by lot, from 1 tree under 5,000 sq ft to 5 trees above 20,001 sq ft. | BMC 19.10 · 19.26.060 |
| Covington | Both permit tracks require a tree inventory “prepared by a qualified arborist” listing every tree 4″ DBH or larger by number, size, approximate height, specific location and species. Covington then defines the preparer: a qualified arborist “shall be a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and/or the Association of Consulting Arborists” and must also hold certified arborist or board-certified master arborist status. | CMC 18.45.060 |
| Maple Valley | “No landmark tree may be removed without first obtaining a Clearing and Grading Permit, regardless of lot size” — landmark meaning 24″ and up. A 12″ significant tree needs the same permit on a lot of one-half acre or more. Permits cost $175 per tree under the 2026 development fee schedule, with first-round comments in four to six weeks, and an arborist report is required to prune or modify a protected tree. Emergencies must be documented by photo or video and reported within seven days, with a post-removal permit. | MVMC 18.40.140 · city FAQ |
Summarized from each city’s adopted code and published handouts as of August 2026, covering the common residential case. Codes change, and the counter has the final say on your parcel.
Which credential your city namesLicensed, certified, qualified, TRAQ
| Wording used in the code | Cities | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| ISA TRAQ named by name | Renton, Tacoma, Puyallup, Burien | A general opinion letter will not clear review. The assessment has to be run on the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification method, and Puyallup wants the worksheet attached. |
| “licensed arborist” | Kent | Kent’s chapter never says certified and never uses the phrase “arborist report”. The deliverable is a formalized finding inside the retention plan. |
| “certified arborist” | Federal Way, Tacoma, Des Moines, Puyallup | ISA certification is the recognized form. Federal Way also accepts a certified landscape architect for the plan. |
| “qualified arborist” | Covington, Auburn | Covington sets a real bar — ISA and/or Association of Consulting Arborists membership plus certified arborist or board-certified master arborist status. Auburn defines a qualified professional by degree in horticulture or arboriculture, or state certification. |
| “qualified professional” | Maple Valley, Auburn | Broadest wording of the ten — and the one most likely to draw a peer review, because the bar is set by the reviewer rather than the code. |
| ASCA consultant named | Renton, Burien | Renton names an “ISA certified arborist or ASCA certified consultant” for construction monitoring. Burien goes further: BMC 19.10.432 requires TRAQ plus one of ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, or “American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) registered consulting arborist (RCA)” — and states that every reference to an arborist anywhere in the title means that. |
Second reviews at your expenseRenton, Auburn
Two of the ten codes let the city order a second opinion and send you the bill. Renton’s administrator “may require independent review of any arborist report… at the City’s discretion.” Auburn “may retain a qualified professional paid for by the applicant” to review a submitted report.
A thin report does not save money. It is the one that gets reviewed twice, at your expense, after the schedule has already slipped.
Frequently Asked Questions About Residential Arborist Reports
Do I need an arborist report to remove a tree?
It depends entirely on the address and the tree. In Auburn, up to six trees per lot in a 12-month period need no clearing permit at all, but a hazard tree removal has to be evaluated by a qualified arborist. Des Moines exempts clearing under 2,000 square feet outside regulated areas, and treats a certified arborist’s determination as the exemption mechanism for a dead or hazardous tree. Renton requires a TRAQ-qualified arborist to certify a high-risk tree and caps it at three per year. The panel on this page lists all ten jurisdictions beside their adopted code. Call with the address and you will get the answer for your parcel.
What is included in a residential arborist report?
A tree inventory with species and diameter at breast height, a condition rating with the structural defects described, labeled photographs of the findings, a site sketch showing the tree and what sits under it, the finding itself, and the recommendation — all written against the code section your city reviews against. Where a formal risk rating is required, the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification worksheet is included, which is what Puyallup asks to be attached to the application.
Is a tree risk assessment the same thing as an arborist report?
Not quite. A tree risk assessment is a specific method for rating the likelihood of failure and the consequences if it does, run on ISA forms by an arborist holding the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. An arborist report is the document that carries a finding to the city, and it may or may not need a formal risk assessment inside it. Renton, Tacoma, Puyallup and Burien all name TRAQ in their codes, so in those four the assessment is a permit prerequisite rather than a credential on a website.
Does the city have to accept the report?
No. A report documents conditions and supports an application; the permit decision belongs to the jurisdiction. Two of the ten codes go further and let the city order a second opinion at the applicant’s expense — Renton’s administrator may require independent review of any arborist report, and Auburn may retain its own qualified professional paid for by the applicant. Matching the code’s wording and credential the first time is what avoids that.
Do I need a report for a tree in a water buffer or on a critical slope?
Usually yes. A hazardous tree standing in a water buffer, on a critical slope, or inside a greenbelt is regulated in most of these jurisdictions even where the same tree in the front yard would not be, and the removal permit application needs an arborist report behind it. We write that report on the tree. Wetland delineation and geotechnical work are separate disciplines and are not something we do.
Can a report be written after an emergency removal?
Yes, and several cities expect exactly that. Most codes let an imminently dangerous tree come down without waiting for a permit, then require the justification after the fact — Maple Valley within seven days with photo or video documentation and a post-removal permit, Covington within twenty-one days. Insurers generally want the same finding in writing. The sooner it is documented the better, because cleanup destroys the evidence the report depends on.
What cities do we service?
Pacific Arboriculture works across south King County and north Pierce County from our shop in Auburn. These are the 21 communities we serve and the ZIP codes they cover.
King County
- Auburn — 98001, 98002, 98092
- Kent — 98030, 98031, 98032, 98042
- Federal Way — 98003, 98023
- Renton — 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059
- Fairwood — 98058
- Covington — 98042
- Maple Valley — 98038
- Burien — 98146, 98148, 98166, 98168
- SeaTac — 98148, 98158, 98168, 98188, 98198
- Tukwila — 98108, 98168, 98178, 98188
- Des Moines — 98148, 98198
- Normandy Park — 98148, 98166, 98198
- Pacific — 98001, 98047
Pierce County
- Tacoma — 98402, 98403, 98404, 98405, 98406, 98407, 98408, 98409, 98418, 98421, 98422, 98443, 98444, 98445, 98446, 98465, 98466
- Puyallup — 98371, 98372, 98373, 98374, 98375
- Fife — 98424
- Milton — 98354
- Sumner — 98390, 98391
- Edgewood — 98371, 98372
- Bonney Lake — 98391
- Lake Tapps — 98391
Several of these communities share a ZIP code with a neighbor, so seeing the same number twice is normal. Puyallup includes South Hill, and the Tacoma list covers the Midland, Summit and Parkland areas. Not sure whether you are in range? Call (206) 909-2170 with your address and you will get a straight answer. City-by-city detail is on the areas we serve page.
Storm Damage & Hazard Documentation
A tree that has already failed still generates paperwork. Most codes let an imminently dangerous tree come down without waiting, but several cities want the justification documented afterward — Maple Valley within seven days, Covington within twenty-one — and insurers usually want the same thing in writing. Call while the debris is still on the ground.
How Much Does a Residential Arborist Report Cost?
Residential arborist reports start at $400. That covers a report on a straightforward single-tree removal permit, right-of-way request, or hazard finding inside our service area. Very few firms in this market publish a figure at all, so here is ours along with exactly what moves it.
| Report type | Starts at |
|---|---|
| Residential — removal permit, right-of-way, hazard and buffer documentation | $400 |
| Development — commercial, new construction, property additions, subdivision, revegetation plans | $800 |
Starting prices, not quotes. Property size, the number of trees in scope, whether a formal tree risk assessment is required, and the overall complexity of the finding all add to the cost. The on-site consultation and the quote are free; the fee applies to the written report. A report documents conditions and supports an application — it is not an approval, and the permit decision rests entirely with the jurisdiction.
Pricing for the tree work itself is separate. See the tree removal cost estimator for size-by-size ranges.
ISA Certified Arborists
Every certification number below links to that arborist’s credential record with the International Society of Arboriculture, so you can verify it before anyone sets foot on your property.
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Request a Residential Arborist Report
Whether the city has asked for documentation, an insurer needs a finding in writing, or you just want a certified arborist’s read on a tree you are worried about, start with a free consultation.