City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 12
Chapter 12.02
Sections 12.02.910...
 

Title 12 Public Ways and Property

Chapter 12.02 Obstruction, Encroachment of Public Ways

Article V. Urban Forestry Program

Section 12.02.910 Definitions
  1. “Arboricultural manual” means the Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice for the City of Spokane which contains regulations and standards for the planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance of trees and shrubs on public property and a program for developing and improving the tree, shrub, and other plant resources of the community.
  1. “Commercial tree work” means any work performed on street or public trees by a person retained by the property owner or public utility.
  1. “Director” means the director of the parks and recreation division or the director’s designee.
  1. “Hazardous tree” means any tree or tree part that poses a high risk of damage to persons or property.
  1. Heritage tree” means a tree or collection of trees that is particularly desirable because it has valued, unique characteristics that set it apart from other similar trees as specified by SMC 12.02.975.
  1. “Major pruning” means the pruning or cutting out of branches two inches (2”) in diameter or greater, root pruning, cutting out of branches and limbs constituting greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the tree’s foliage bearing area and pruning trees with branches that are within ten feet (10’) of overhead power lines. The work shall retain the natural form of the tree.
  1. “Minor pruning” means pruning or cutting out of water sprouts, suckers, twigs, or branches less than two inches (2”) in diameter, or which constitutes less than fifteen percent (15%) of the tree’s foliage bearing area. The work shall retain the natural form of the tree. Removal of dead wood, broken branches, and stubs are included within the definition of minor pruning. Minor pruning of street trees may be performed by the owner of the adjacent property without obtaining a permit from the City.
  1. “Public place” means property owned in fee by the City of Spokane.
  1. “Public Tree” is a tree on City-owned property. A public tree may also be a street tree.
  1. “Public utility” means any organization that has a franchise to utilize the public rights-of-way.
  1. “Right-of-way” means that strip of land:
  1. dedicated for public travel, including the main traveled portions of the streets and sidewalks as well as parking or planting strips, pedestrian buffer strips, and other associated areas, or over which is built, public streets, sidewalks, or alleys for public travel; or
  1. used for or dedicated to utilities installation within the right-of-way.
  1. “Severe crown reduction” means the specific reduction in the overall size of a tree and/or the severe internodal cutting back of branches or limbs to stubs within the tree’s crown to such a degree as to remove the normal tree canopy and disfigure the tree. Severe crown reduction is not a form of pruning and, for street trees and trees within the public right-of-way, is prohibited.
  1. “Street tree” means any tree or shrub located within the public right-of-way.
  1. “Tree committee” means the urban forestry tree committee created by SMC 04.28.010.
  1. “Tree lawn,” “parking strip,” and “planting strip” are used interchangeably to mean the area between the curb and sidewalk.
  1. “Urban forestry plan” means a comprehensive plan addressing the long-term goals and strategic planning related to tree planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance needs of trees located in public places to encourage the sustainability of the urban forest. Neighborhood specific tree plans or neighborhood land use plans which incorporate sections or language related to public trees shall be incorporated in the general urban forestry plan and neighborhoods shall consider the urban forestry plan in the development of neighborhood specific tree plans or land use plans.

Date Passed: Monday, April 22, 2019

Effective Date: Monday, May 27, 2019

ORD C35758 Section 1

Section 12.02.910 Definitions
  1. “Arboricultural manual” means the Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice for the City of Spokane which contains regulations and standards for the planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance of trees and shrubs on public property and a program for developing and improving the tree, shrub, and other plant resources of the community.
  1. “Commercial tree work” means any work performed on street or public trees by a person retained by the property owner or public utility.
  1. “Director” means the director of the parks and recreation division or the director’s designee.
  1. “Hazardous tree” means any tree or tree part that poses a high risk of damage to persons or property.
  1. Heritage tree” means a tree or collection of trees that is particularly desirable because it has valued, unique characteristics that set it apart from other similar trees as specified by SMC 12.02.975.
  1. “Major pruning” means the pruning or cutting out of branches two inches (2”) in diameter or greater, root pruning, cutting out of branches and limbs constituting greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the tree’s foliage bearing area and pruning trees with branches that are within ten feet (10’) of overhead power lines. The work shall retain the natural form of the tree.
  1. “Minor pruning” means pruning or cutting out of water sprouts, suckers, twigs, or branches less than two inches (2”) in diameter, or which constitutes less than fifteen percent (15%) of the tree’s foliage bearing area. The work shall retain the natural form of the tree. Removal of dead wood, broken branches, and stubs are included within the definition of minor pruning. Minor pruning of street trees may be performed by the owner of the adjacent property without obtaining a permit from the City.
  1. “Public place” means property owned in fee by the City of Spokane.
  1. “Public Tree” is a tree on City-owned property. A public tree may also be a street tree.
  1. “Public utility” means any organization that has a franchise to utilize the public rights-of-way.
  1. “Right-of-way” means that strip of land:
  1. dedicated for public travel, including the main traveled portions of the streets and sidewalks as well as parking or planting strips, pedestrian buffer strips, and other associated areas, or over which is built, public streets, sidewalks, or alleys for public travel; or
  1. used for or dedicated to utilities installation within the right-of-way.
  1. “Severe crown reduction” means the specific reduction in the overall size of a tree and/or the severe internodal cutting back of branches or limbs to stubs within the tree’s crown to such a degree as to remove the normal tree canopy and disfigure the tree. Severe crown reduction is not a form of pruning and, for street trees and trees within the public right-of-way, is prohibited.
  1. “Street tree” means any tree or shrub located within the public right-of-way.
  1. “Tree committee” means the urban forestry tree committee created by SMC 04.28.010.
  1. “Tree lawn,” “parking strip,” and “planting strip” are used interchangeably to mean the area between the curb and sidewalk.
  1. “Urban forestry plan” means a comprehensive plan addressing the long-term goals and strategic planning related to tree planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance needs of trees located in public places to encourage the sustainability of the urban forest. Neighborhood specific tree plans or neighborhood land use plans which incorporate sections or language related to public trees shall be incorporated in the general urban forestry plan and neighborhoods shall consider the urban forestry plan in the development of neighborhood specific tree plans or land use plans.

Date Passed: Monday, April 22, 2019

Effective Date: Monday, May 27, 2019

ORD C35758 Section 1