Family-owned tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, and emergency tree service for Portland homeowners and property owners. Licensed (CCB #209975), bonded, and insured — with 35+ years of experience handling urban tight-access removals, mature street trees, and the protected canopy of Oregon's largest city. We know Portland's Title 11 Tree Code inside and out.
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Tree Service in Portland, Oregon
Family-Owned Tree Service Since 1986
We Service The Entire Portland Area
Fully Licensed & Insured, Free Estimates & $0 Deposit
Experienced Crew With Cutting Edge Equipment
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Portland has the most comprehensive urban tree code in Oregon — Title 11, enforced citywide since 2013, regulating nearly every meaningful tree on private and public property. The reality for Portland property owners: a permit is required to remove any private tree 12 inches in diameter or larger, and a permit is required to remove ANY street tree, regardless of size. Tree work here also means navigating tight urban access — narrow lots, parking strips, power lines, neighboring properties, and historic and environmental overlay zones across neighborhoods like Sellwood, Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst, Alameda, Hawthorne, Hillsdale, St. Johns, and Multnomah Village. North Woods has worked across Portland for 35+ years — through the city's pre-Title 11 days and every code update since. We don't just remove trees in Portland; we navigate the city's code, the permit process, and the urban access challenges so our customers stay compliant.
Portland's Trusted Tree Service Since 1986
Homeowner in Portland?
From mature street tree removals to tight-access urban tree work in close-knit neighborhoods, we handle every residential job across Portland — Sellwood, Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst, Alameda, Hawthorne, St. Johns, Multnomah Village, and beyond. We manage the Title 11 permit process so you don't risk a violation. Family-owned, fully licensed, and trusted by Portland homeowners for 35+ years.
Building or Managing Property in Portland?
Lot clearing, commercial tree removal, site prep, and HOA and property management tree services for contractors, developers, and property managers across Portland. We understand the city's development-related tree preservation, mitigation, and replanting requirements under Chapter 11.50. Licensed CCB #209975, bonded, and ready to mobilize.
Our Tree Services in Portland
From permit-managed urban removals to precision pruning of mature canopy, North Woods handles every scale of tree care across Portland — with full knowledge of the city's tree code.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Tree Removal
Professional trimming, crown reduction, and seasonal pruning by ISA Certified Arborists. Critical for managing mature Portland canopy — and street tree pruning often requires city permits, which we handle.
Description: Safe, controlled tree removal for hazardous, large, and tight-access urban trees across Portland — including full management of the city's Title 11 tree permit process for private trees 12"+ DBH and all street trees.
Fast response for fallen trees, storm damage, and hazard situations across Portland. Emergency and dangerous tree removals fall under expedited Title 11 provisions — we handle the retroactive permit documentation the city requires.
Commercial Tree Removal
Commercial tree services for Portland businesses, HOAs, property management companies, and multi-property commercial owners. Licensed, insured, and consistent across portfolios.
Emergency Tree Removal
Storm Damage Cleanup
Stump Grinding & Removal
Storm damage cleanup and fallen tree removal after Portland's wet-season windstorms. Fast response with full debris removal — and proper documentation for any retroactive city permits.
Complete stump grinding and removal to reclaim your Portland yard — including coordination with the Oregon Utility Notification Center (811) for underground utility location.
Portland's Title 11 Tree Code — What You Need to Know
Portland has the most comprehensive urban tree code in Oregon — Title 11, enforced citywide since July 2013. Here's the reality for Portland property owners: a permit is required to remove any private tree 12 inches DBH or larger (measured at 4.5 feet above ground), and a permit is required to remove ANY street tree, regardless of size — except for self-sown trees less than half an inch in diameter. The city also limits how many trees you can remove: up to four healthy trees per site per calendar year, with each tree under 20 inches DBH and not a designated Heritage Tree. Portland uses two permit types: Type A permits for routine, lower-impact removals; and Type B permits for higher-impact removals that may require public notice and the chance for appeal to the Urban Forestry Appeals Board. Heritage Trees require a separate, more involved permit for any work — including pruning. Approved removals trigger replanting requirements under Chapter 11.50, and in some cases a fee in lieu of replanting (capped at $1,200 per tree for single-family residential). Unpermitted removal of regulated trees is a code violation enforced through the Code Hearings Officer. North Woods handles the entire Title 11 permit process for our Portland customers — Type A, Type B, Heritage Tree, emergency retroactive permits, and replanting documentation. For direct questions, Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry can be reached at 503-823-TREE (8733).
Why Portland Property Owners Choose North Woods
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Portland's Title 11 Tree Code is complex enough that doing it wrong leads to violations, fines, and mandatory replanting. We've worked through the city's permit process — Type A, Type B, emergency, Heritage Tree, and retroactive — for 35+ years. We handle the paperwork so you stay compliant.
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Portland is dense — narrow lots, parking strips, power lines, neighboring homes mere feet away. Urban tree removal here requires rigging expertise, safety skill, and the proper equipment to drop or lower large trees in tight spaces. That's our specialty.
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Run by James Cowell out of nearby Beavercreek, North Woods is a true local business — not a national franchise. We've worked Portland properties from St. Johns to Sellwood for over three decades and show up the same way for every job.
Frequently Asked Questions — Portland Tree Service
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from homeowners, contractors, and property owners across Canby.
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In most cases, yes. Under Portland's Title 11 Tree Code, a permit is required to remove any private tree 12 inches in diameter (DBH) or larger (measured at 4.5 feet above ground), and a permit is required to remove ANY street tree, regardless of size (with one narrow exception for self-sown trees under half an inch in diameter). Heritage Trees always require a permit. We handle the entire permit process for our customers — contact us before any removal.
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A Type A permit is for routine, lower-impact tree work — like dead, dying, or dangerous tree removals. A Type B permit is for higher-impact removals that may require public notice and the opportunity for appeal to the Urban Forestry Appeals Board. Type B permits can also be modified during review based on the City Forester's findings. We determine which applies to your project and manage the application for you.
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Portland limits removal to up to four healthy trees per site per calendar year, provided each tree is under 20 inches DBH and is not a designated Heritage Tree. Dead, dying, or dangerous trees can also be removed under separate provisions. If you need to remove more than the annual limit, a special permit or review applies. We help determine your situation before any work begins.
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A Heritage Tree is a tree formally designated by the City of Portland as historically, ecologically, or culturally significant. All work on Heritage Trees — including pruning, inoculation, or removal — requires a separate, more involved permit from Urban Forestry. Most properties don't have Heritage Trees, but if yours is designated, we'll work through the proper permit process.
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If a tree presents a clear and present danger to structures or the public and there isn't time to obtain a permit, the hazardous portion of the tree may be removed without a permit first — but a retroactive permit is still required to document the removal and the emergency situation. We handle that retroactive permit process for our Portland emergency customers. Call (503) 656-5802 for urgent service.
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In most cases, yes. Approved removals trigger replanting requirements under Chapter 11.50 — typically one or more replacement trees per tree removed. Some property owners can pay a fee in lieu of replanting instead — capped at $1,200 per tree for single-family residential development. We document the replanting requirement on every permit and can coordinate the replanting if you'd like.
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Yes. North Woods Tree Service is fully licensed (CCB #209975), bonded, and insured with liability and workers' comp coverage on every job. We provide certificates of insurance to homeowners, general contractors, HOAs, and property managers on request.
Get Your Free Estimate Today
Whether you have a single tree to remove or need to navigate West Linn's strict tree ordinance, North Woods brings 35+ years of local experience and full knowledge of the city's permit process. Free estimates, $0 deposit, full cleanup, and complete permit handling included.