Portland's tree code permits and enforcement team joins Permitting Development

Starting today, October 1, 2025, 21 professionals from the Urban Forestry Division have transitioned to the newly formed Tree Permitting Division at Portland Permitting & Development. This division will handle tree permits for both private properties and street trees, review capital improvement projects, and enforce the city's tree code. Robert Irving, a certified arborist with more than two decades of experience, will lead the team, which now includes six additional staff members who joined in July 2025. This staffing change follows a city council directive through a budget amendment that eliminated 10 positions in the Urban Forestry Division effective September 1, 2025. City officials, including David Kuhnhausen and Sonia Schmanski, reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Portland's urban tree canopy in this new structure.

The Urban Forestry Division will continue to manage tree-related policies and community programs. Leadership from both divisions will report to the city council throughout the fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2026, to monitor the transition's effectiveness. The move aims to enhance service delivery related to tree permitting and regulation for Portland residents.