Seattle residents frequently ask the City who owns the trees along the street where they live, what kind of trees they are and whose responsibility it is to maintain them. Tree disputes are common in West Seattle since there are so many existing or potential disruptions to views from the many hillside homes in the community.

There are heritage trees in West Seattle that are on public streets.
Did you know for example about the Giant Sequoia tree on the 6500 block of 40th s.w. or the 57 inch Tulip tree just off Palm Avenue in the Admiral District?

You can now obtain that information using a new web-based map showing most of Seattle’s street trees. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is currently drafting an ordinance that will aid in regulating and managing street trees so the information has enhanced value now.

Some of the information is twenty years old since the data shown on the new map comes from an inventory first compiled in 1992. The information has been updated several times as more trees were planted, and SDOT’s work continues.

Of the estimated 140,000 street trees in the city, 122,000 are now included in the inventory. In addition to the map, the Web site lists additional information about many of the individual trees: the common and scientific name, the diameter of the trunk, the street address, the party responsible for maintenance, the date the tree was planted or inventoried, and the date that the tree was last checked by a city arborist.

“Our new Web page is a great place to start to get general information about your neighborhood’s trees,” says Nolan Rundquist, city arborist. “The public can also help add to this inventory by providing information about nearby trees not listed on the map.” Rundquist did caution, however, that residents should remember to contact SDOT’s Urban Forestry office at 206-684-TREE (8733) to verify the on-line information before taking serious action with any particular tree.

Curious about the trees listed on your street? You can find the map at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/treeinventory.htm. To help provide more information about a tree near you that is not in the Urban Forestry inventory, please visit: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/tree_add.htm.