Tree service in SeaTac, Washington

Tree removal permits in SeaTac

SeaTac has no stand-alone tree removal permit for homeowners. The clearing and grading permit, called an STE permit, applies under SMC 13.190.040 when you disturb 7,000 square feet or more, move 50 cubic yards of cut or fill, or work in a sensitive area; emergency tree removal is exempt under 13.190.045(K). Public Works’ Engineering Review Division issues STE permits and Community and Economic Development enforces them. Fees are based on project value.

Development brings more rules. A King County 2024 summary defines significant trees for development as 8 inches for evergreens and 12 inches for deciduous trees, measured 36 inches above grade, and requires 2 replacement trees per significant tree removed in subdivisions; a single-family dwelling needs no separate STE permit when plans are filed with the building permit. Critical areas fall under SMC 18.15. No street-tree permit chapter was found, but the city’s Tree Board advises on public-tree removals. See the Washington permit guide.

Every city compared: tree removal permits in Washington.

Source: Public Works – Engineering Review Division (STE permits); Community & Economic Development enforces (13.190.120), SMC 13.190.040, 13.190.045 (Clearing and Grading); SMC 15.445.300, 15.445.410 (tree retention, subdivisions); SMC 18.15 (critical areas). Checked 2026-10-02.

Storm records for King County (covers SeaTac)

One storm defines King County’s recent record. On November 19, 2024, an easterly windstorm produced 7 high-wind reports and extensive tree damage across Puget Sound. NOAA’s broader record holds 133 reports for the county, 16th of Washington’s 39, with heavy snow at 68, high wind at 23, winter weather at 13 and ice storms at 11.

Winter is the whole season: 84 percent of reports fall between November and February, peaking in February, December and January. FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates wind Very Low at 4.5 but ice storm Relatively High at 91.1, winter weather Relatively High at 94.7 and overall risk Very High, and the latest three years logged 32 reports against 54 before.

NWS forecast zones covering the county: Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties; Cascades of Southern King County; City of Seattle; Eastside; Foothills and Valleys of Central King County; Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to June 2026 · NWS zone-county correlation files (2019 to 2026 versions). Checked 2026-10-02. NOAA Storm Events 2016-2026; zone-based events assigned to every county the NWS zone covers using the zone-county correlation file in force on the event date (2019-04-02 file used for 2016-2018).

Power lines and utilities in SeaTac

Seattle City Light serves SeaTac; report outages at (206) 684-3000 and downed lines to 911. SCL trims around its distribution and transmission lines, poles, transformers and vaults, but prunes service lines only for the first 10 feet from the distribution connection; beyond that, the owner is responsible.

Its clearance targets are 10 feet for slow-growing and 14 feet for fast-growing trees near distribution lines with 15 feet of overhang, 3 to 5 feet around service lines, 10 feet around transformers and 3 feet around poles. Read tree removal near power lines and the utility directory.

Split at S 160th St: SCL north, PSE south; majority NOT verified

Source: utility vegetation-management pages linked above; WAC 296-24-960 (WA L&I). Checked 2026-10-02.

Pests and quarantines

Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth)

Spongy moth, formerly gypsy moth, is confirmed in the area with no quarantine in place. Report sightings through the WA Invasives app, inspect firewood, outdoor furniture and RVs before bringing them from infested states, and agree to host a monitoring trap if asked. The pest guides show what to look for.

• Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth): Report sightings (OR Invasive Species Hotline / WA Invasives app); inspect wood, outdoor furniture, RVs before moving from infested states; host a trap if asked

Source: Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth). Checked 2026-10-02.

Growing conditions in SeaTac

SeaTac is in USDA hardiness zone 9a, one of the milder zones in the state. When you replant, follow SCL’s clearance distances and favor slow-growing species near lines, since the fast-growing category needs 14 feet of clearance. After the November 2024 east wind, consider root stability and planting position, not just size.

USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map, by ZIP code).

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (OSU PRISM ZIP data). Checked 2026-10-02.

Labor index for SeaTac

BLS’s Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue estimate covers SeaTac: a $33.85 mean and $32.75 median hourly wage for tree trimmers and pruners, from about 310 workers in the metro. That is a wage, not a price. Line clearance, permit work and disposal add to a job, which the modeled ranges on the service pages account for.

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: $33.85 per hour mean wage for tree trimmers and pruners (BLS, May 2025). This is a labor index, not a price; the modeled crew-hour cost used on this site is $210 (method).

843 landscaping-services establishments were counted in King County in 2023 (Census County Business Patterns, NAICS 561730).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-3013 · U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 561730. Checked 2026-10-02.

ZIP codes and nearby cities

SeaTac spans ZIP codes 98188, 98158, 98198, 98168, 98148 and 98032, and its population grew from 31,454 in 2020 to 34,578 in 2025. Tukwila is 2 miles away, Burien 3, Des Moines 4, Kent and Renton 5, and Mercer Island 9; each has its own tree code, so confirm the jurisdiction from the parcel record. County data is on the King County page.

ZIP codes with the most land inside SeaTac: 981889815898198981689814898032

• Tukwila2 miles
• Burien3 miles
• Des Moines4 miles
• Kent5 miles
• Renton5 miles
• Mercer Island9 miles

County page: King County.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA to place and county relationship files. Checked 2026-10-02.

Tree services in SeaTac

The service pages below apply SeaTac’s clearing rules and SCL’s clearances to each job. Tree removal covers the STE triggers and the emergency exemption; tree trimming covers SCL’s 10-foot service-line rule; stump grinding covers 811 and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency burn rules; and emergency tree service covers east-wind and ice events.

• Tree removal (statewide guide)
• Tree trimming in SeaTac
• Stump grinding (statewide guide)
• Emergency tree service (statewide guide)
• Arborists and tree health
• Check a license in Washington

What to do next

Measure the area you will disturb; under 7,000 square feet and outside a sensitive area, no STE permit is needed. A hazardous tree after a storm can come down under the emergency exemption, but document it with photos and an arborist’s risk assessment. For storm insurance questions, see the storm damage insurance guide. Check any company in the Washington license lookup.