Certified Arborists · Serving the Eastside Since 2010
Tree Service in Seattle, Washington
Expert tree pruning, removal, stump grinding and emergency care from certified arborists across Seattle and the greater Eastside.
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Integrity Tree Works: The Go-to Experts in Seattle, WA
Seattle's tree canopy is one of the densest of any city on the Eastside — towering Douglas-firs, Bigleaf Maples, and Western Red Cedars line neighborhoods from Wallingford and Magnolia to the lakeshore properties of West Seattle. Those mature conifers are beautiful, but on Seattle's hilly, often wet terrain they also bring real risks: storm-loaded limbs, root issues near slopes and shorelines, and removals that fall squarely under the city's tree-protection code.
We've provided certified-arborist tree service across Seattle and the greater Eastside since 2010, handling everything from precise pruning to complex removals near homes and power lines. Whether you need routine care or have an emergency, we can handle it — safely and to code.
Why Choose Integrity Tree Works in Seattle, WA?
Safety First
Our top priority is the safety of our clients and their property. We follow strict safety protocols and Seattle Tree Removal Guidelines to ensure that every tree situation is handled with the utmost care.
Professionalism
Our team of skilled arborists and technicians are trained to handle any tree service in Seattle with professionalism and expertise. We arrive on time, fully equipped, and ready to tackle any challenge.
Customer Satisfaction
We take pride in our ability to exceed our customers’ expectations. From the initial call to the completion of the tree service, we strive to provide the highest level of customer service and satisfaction Seattle has to offer.
How Seattle’s Tier System Affects Your Tree
Most Seattle tree jobs stall on paperwork, not on the tree. Since the 2023 tree protection ordinance, the city sorts trees into four tiers, and the tier decides whether removal is even on the table. The code was amended again effective January 21, 2026, changing how tree protection areas are calculated and how they interact with buildable area in Neighborhood Residential zones. A lot of the tree-service content online still describes the old rules.
DSH is diameter at standard height. The Tier 2 species list is where homeowners get caught out — a tree well under 24 inches can still be Tier 2 depending on species, with some thresholds as low as 6 inches. We check the list before quoting, not after.
What you can remove without city review
Where no development is proposed on a developed lot, the code allows no more than two Tier 4 trees in any three-year period in Neighborhood Residential, Lowrise, Midrise, commercial and Seattle Mixed zones, and no more than three Tier 3 and Tier 4 trees in any one-year period on developed lots in all other zones. Tier 1 and Tier 2 trees have no by-right allowance at all, and on undeveloped lots removal is prohibited across every tier.
Hazard Removals — What Seattle Actually Requires
For Tier 1 and Tier 2 trees, hazard is effectively the only route to removal outside a development permit. The city does not take your word for it. It asks for an ISA Basic Tree Risk Assessment Form completed by a certified arborist holding a current ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification and submitted by a registered tree service provider, an arborist report covering the tree’s health and what it would hit if it failed, and photographs clear enough to identify species and show proximity to structures. Emergencies work differently — you notify SDCI first and a brief narrative replaces the full assessment. Replacement planting is required for hazardous Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 removals.
Registered with the City of Seattle
Seattle requires property owners to use a registered tree service provider for paid tree work — and that applies on residential property, not just commercial. The line is paid work versus work you do yourself.
Integrity Tree Works is Tree Service Provider LIC-TSP-21506, active with both SDCI and SDOT. SDOT registration covers the public right-of-way, so we can also work on the street tree in front of your house — something many providers are not registered to touch. You can verify us in the city’s public Tree Service Provider Directory.
Rules change. Confirm your specific tree with Seattle SDCI, or ask us to check it as part of your estimate.
Our Seattle Specialties
A closer look at two of our most-requested services for Seattle homeowners and businesses.
Emergency Tree Service
When it comes to emergency tree services in Seattle, WA, our team is proud to be the go-to choice for both residential and commercial clients. With strong commitment to safety, professionalism, and customer satisfaction, we have been serving the communities of Seattle since 2010 including Ballard, West Seattle, Laurelhurst and Queen Anne.
Tree and Stump Removal
Don’t settle for anything less than the best when it comes to emergency tree services. Trust our experienced team to handle your tree emergencies promptly and efficiently. Contact us today for a free consultation and experience the difference of working with the top tree service provider in Seattle.
Seattle Tree Removal Permits & Local Regulations
Seattle has some of the strictest tree-protection rules on the Eastside, and removing the wrong tree without a permit can lead to significant penalties. Before any work begins, our certified arborists help you understand exactly what the City of Seattle requires — so your project stays compliant and stress-free.
Under the city's tree code, a permit is generally required to remove:
- Significant trees — roughly 6 inches in diameter or greater (measured about 4 feet above the ground).
- Landmark trees — generally 24 inches in diameter or greater, with lower thresholds for certain slow-growing native species.
- Any tree within a critical area, buffer, shoreline zone, or native growth protection area, and trees on commercial or multifamily property.
Seattle also limits how many significant or landmark trees a residential property can remove each year without replanting — the exact number depends on your lot size. Hazardous trees are handled differently, but the city may still require documentation after the fact. We can assess your trees, advise on replanting requirements, and point you to the city's official Tree Removal requirements.
Wallingford note: Seattle now applies one consistent set of tree-removal rules citywide, including the wooded Wallingford neighborhood — permits are still required there to remove significant or landmark trees.
Seattle's Trees & Local Growing Conditions
According to the City of Seattle's own tree guide, the Douglas-fir is the most common tree you'll see across the city — often reaching well over 100 feet on Seattle's hillsides. Alongside it, Western Red Cedar and Bigleaf Maple round out the native canopy that gives neighborhoods like Magnolia, Lakemont, and Wallingford their wooded character.
Each of these species brings its own care needs. Mature Douglas-firs can drop heavy limbs in wind and wet-snow events; Western Red Cedars show stress (thinning, browning tops) during the dry late-summer stretches typical of the Eastside; and fast-growing Bigleaf Maples often need structural pruning to manage weight over homes, driveways, and fences. Seattle's hilly terrain, clay-heavy soils, and proximity to Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish also mean root health and slope stability are real considerations on many removals.
Our certified arborists know how these local species and conditions behave, so we can recommend the right approach — whether that's targeted pruning to preserve a healthy landmark tree or a safe, fully permitted removal.
Our Tree Services in Seattle, WA
From routine care to major removals, our certified arborists handle it all for Seattle homeowners and businesses — explore our core services below.
We can also help Seattle property owners navigate local tree removal permits and the city’s tree regulations.
Serving Seattle & the Greater Eastside
Proudly caring for trees across Seattle and its neighborhoods since 2010. Local crews, certified arborists. Tap a community below to learn more about tree service near you.
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Integrity Tree Works — licensed, bonded, and insured (WA Contractor License INTEGTS775P4), and trusted by Seattle homeowners since 2010. Get a free estimate →
Seattle Tree Service FAQs
Common questions from Seattle homeowners about tree removal, pruning, and emergency tree care.
Satisfaction is our Top Priority
At Integrity Tree Works, customer satisfaction is our top priority. When you choose us for tree service in Seattle, you can rest knowing that you’re in capable hands. We provide on-site consultation and estimate for tree services in Seattle, Washington.