Urban Forestry Program

Download the Urban Forestry Plan here.

Overview

Snohomish’s urban forest is an important resource to the City and its residents.  Trees provide a multitude of physical, environmental, aesthetic, and economic benefits.  The Urban Forestry Program is a comprehensive guide to all things plants and planting in the city.  The plan will inventory existing tree coverage and identify areas where increased coverage is needed.  

The Urban Forestry Program includes several distinct plans and projects, described in more detail below.  The first step was a tree inventory, which was completed in the spring of 2023 through a grant from the Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program.  An interactive map can be viewed by clicking the link below.

The Urban Forestry Plan was then adopted by the City Council in 2023.  An update to the City's tree code will then be completed in 2024 and 2025.  This update is expected to establish a tree mitigation fund and an additional plan for how the funds will be utilized.  Plant species for all work within the right-of-way will be included to ensure the right plants are being located in the right area to maximize the benefits of the plants and for low maintenance, environmental sustainability, and visual appeal.  It will work in conjunction with the Complete Streets Project to require attractive streetscapes that are easy to maintain.

City Council adopted the Tree Program under Ordinance 2516 on April 1, 2025 and the Tree Program Use Guide details permitting requirements.

Why Urban Forestry?

Trees are a valuable community asset, enhancing our parks and open spaces, cooling our neighborhoods, capturing air pollution, intercepting stormwater runoff and improving safety in our community. Growing and caring for our city’s urban tree canopy is no small task; a healthy tree canopy is the result of proper planning, management and community involvement.

The urban forest plays a key role in mitigating urban heat islands, reducing electricity bills, improving air quality, reducing flood impacts, improving overall emotional and psychological health and improving physical health.

Taken together, these benefits help save an estimated $44 million annually in reduced healthcare, emergency response and energy costs.

Information about how to plant saplings and care for new trees.

tree services web graphic

Tree Inventory

The City was awarded the Community Forestry grant from the Department of Natural Resources in order to conduct an inventory of all trees in the public right-of-way as well as in select parks and City properties.  Trees located on private property will not be included.  Basic information about each tree have been collected and mapped.  This includes species, diameter, height, and a basic health assessment.  

Tree map button
Arborist from Dudek performing tree inventory work


The Urban Forestry Plan emphasizes "right tree, right place". Appendix B of the Plan has a list of species that have been selected based on how they fare in Snohomish's climate and soil conditions. The list is broken down by street trees and yard/open space trees, with another list provided for species that are prohibited and not recommended. 

The list of species only is provided below as a reference. See the Urban Forestry Plan for more details, including environmental needs and height/spread at maturity for each species.

  1. Street Trees
  2. Yard/Open Space Trees
  3. Prohibited/Not Recommended

Street Trees

  • Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)
  • Cascara Buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana)
  • Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
  • Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca)
  • Western Mountain Ash (Sorbus scopulina)
  • Western (Douglas) Hawthorn (Crataegus douglassii)
  • (Common) Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum)
  • Port Orford Pear (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
  • Starlight Dogwood (Cornus kousa x nuttalii)
  • Rocky Mountain Juniper 'Skyrocket' (Juniperus scopulorum)
  • Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
  • Dura Heat River Birch (Betula nigra 'BNMTF')
  • Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
  • Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
  • Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
  • Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
  • Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
  • Goldenrain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
  • Persian Parrotia/Ironwood (Parrotia persica)
  • Autumn Gold Gingko (Gingko biloba 'Autumn Gold')
  • Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
  • Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
  • Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
  • White Oak (Quercus alba)
  • Skyline Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos 'Skycole')
  • Heritage River Birch (Betula nigra 'cully')
  • Decaf Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioica 'McBranched')
  • Red Cascade Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana 'Dwarfcrown')
  • Paradise Apple (Malus pumila Mill.)
  • Forest Green Italian Oak (Quercus frainetto 'Schmidt')
  • Snowcloud Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
  • Green Vase Zelkova (Zelkova serrata 'Greenvase')
View larger map

Public Resources

See the press release about the DNR grant close-out.  Click here to view the report.

DNR logo

Funding to support this project was provided by the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program.