Tree Permitting Service Update November 17, 2025

The City of Portland has updated its estimated turnaround times for tree permitting services, effective November 17, 2025, amid rising workloads and staff reductions. Non-development tree permit decisions and planting verification inspections may take up to five weeks. Code compliance and emergency response follow-up inspections are also estimated to take the same duration. The Code Compliance team aims to respond to phone and email inquiries within four business days, while major tree inspector case assignments may take up to four weeks. Administrative reviews could extend to eight weeks, reflecting the increased demand for services.

In case of a tree emergency threatening public safety, residents should call 503-823-TREE, as emailing may delay the response. The city commits to monitoring workloads closely and will update turnaround times as conditions change. These adjustments highlight the impact of staffing changes on city services and the need for residents to plan accordingly.