What has the City Council decided to do about Tacoma's Tree Canopy?

City Council Resolution 41682, passed unanimously on May 13, 2025, sets in action a two year, four phase city planning process to determine if and how Tacoma should restore its tree canopy, culminating in recommended changes to the City Municipal Code and a proposed source of funding for the 2027-2028 biennial budget.

“The City Manager and Planning Commission are hereby directed to advance a phased set of actions aimed at creating a thriving urban forest in the City by expanding the City's Urban Forestry Program and advancing implementation of the Urban Forest Management Plan … taking into consideration the housing crisis and the vital need to meet the City's responsibilities to the Growth Management Act, as well as broader City budget constraints.”

Note: The timing of each phase may vary as the process unfolds.

Phase 1: Beginning June 2025, ending December 2025

Gather community input on expanding the City's Urban Forest Program.
Expand "Make a Splash" grant funding for depaving and tree planting projects, with plan to spend up to $150,000 in 2026, allowing corporate matching grants.
Engage a consultant to support analysis, planning, and development of code and tasks in this phased approach, as needed.

Phase 2: Beginning January 2026, ending June 2026

Create program that offers business districts the option to pay for City services to maintain trees in their district.
Recommend options for funding City maintenance of trees in the public right-of-way (street parking strips), including wastewater excise tax, stormwater utility fees, shared tree crews with other agencies, and other possibilities. Consider recent LiDAR data analysis for number of trees needed and include benefits to the City and community.

Phase 3: Beginning June 2026, ending January 2027

Recommend ordinance options for tree canopy management and tree preservation for development sites citywide.
Recommend when ordinance options should apply to development sites.
Recommend ordinance options to create new permit structure for canopy loss fees on sites without active development.
Consider exemptions for hazardous trees, nuisance trees, prohibited trees, trees damaging sidewalk, significantly damaged trees, or trees located in a View Sensitive District.
Recommend ordinance options to increase tree canopy requirements for parking lots.
Recommend ordinance options to determine and increase tree canopy requirements for commercial, manufacturing, and industrial uses in low equity areas.

Phase 4: Beginning January 2027, ending June 2027

Consider the fiscal impact of potential new land use and development regulations regarding tree preservation, tree credits, and canopy loss.
Information gathered during all phases shall be used to set realistic canopy goals and policies and be incorporated into the City’s stormwater manual.