Overview

The City of Spokane Urban Forestry Program was created to manage, protect, and expand the public property trees predominately found on city right-of-ways and in city parks.

Spokane’s urban forest provides many economic, health and environmental benefits for city residents and businesses. Trees produce oxygen, and filter airborne particulates thus improving Spokane’s air quality. A healthy urban forest will improve water quality and reduce storm water runoff to save city residents several millions annually, just in storm water mitigation fees. A mature tree canopy provides shade, contributes to summer cooling, and moderates the affects of wind in the urban environment. This reduces energy consumption and costs, saving Spokane residents thousands of dollars yearly. Trees also impart a distinctive character and beauty to our city, enrich the aesthetic experience of the community, soften and screen urban development, provide habitat for wildlife, and add to area history, civic pride and involvement.  Trees offer many economic benefits like increasing property and business values, attracting tourists, businesses, and residents, resulting in more city revenue. As Spokane becomes more urbanized and sprawls into rural areas, our urban forest and woodlots become increasingly important. Educating area residents as to the importance of our urban canopy is one of the objectives of the City of Spokane Urban Forestry Program.

Other objectives are the following:

  • Maintain, preserve, and improve existing street tree environments in the urban forest of Spokane and its individual neighborhoods
  • Retain our status as a “Tree City USA”
  • Preserve and protect native, significant, and historical trees and landscapes
  • Coordinate all construction activities affecting trees/shrubs with Urban Forestry Program
  • Promote monetary value of the urban forest
  • Reduce the incidence of high risk trees and ensure a healthy and safe tree population
  • Implement a planting program for public spaces


The City of Spokane Urban Forestry Program issues permits for the planting, pruning and removal of trees and in accordance with the city ordinance, requires any work performed on a public tree be performed by an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist. Because of this process we are ensuring the future of Spokane’s urban forest and:

  • The right tree is planted for each available location
  • Trees are maintained in the best physical condition possible
  • Hazardous trees are removed and replaced
  • Maximize the amount of canopy within a given space


An Urban Forestry Tree Committee was created to advise and make recommendations to the park board and city council regarding managing, conserving and enhancing the trees and shrubs located in public areas of the city, assisting property owners and public agencies.

A Citizen Advisory Committee has been established to advise and make recommendations to the city of Spokane Urban Forestry Tree Committee on plans and policies.

For further information contact the City of Spokane Urban Forestry Program by calling 509-363-5495 or online at urbanforestry@spokanecity.org.