Last August, the city removed Portland’s first Heritage Tree, an elm more than 150 years old, because it was determined to be a danger to the public. The city’s tree code compliance team has faced numerous complaints for years about overly rigid and uneven enforcement — and now it’s being moved from Parks & Recreation to the permitting bureau. Dave Killen / The Oregonian
Portland’s much-maligned inspectors who enforce the city’s tree-cutting and pruning rules face a major shakeup that City Council supporters hope will lead to fewer resident complaints of inflexibility and expense.
Starting in October, all tree code inspectors move from Urban Forestry to the Permitting and Development Bureau. Their number also will be trimmed as the city strips away one of the team’s funding sources – $2.1 million in existing parks levy funds slated to pay instead for city parks maintenance.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.