As of August 6, 2026, Snohomish County remains under a Stage 1 fire-safety burn ban. Residential open burning is suspended, even with a permit. Do not use a fire to dispose of branches, leaves, clippings, or other yard debris. Instead, separate manageable material for an approved non-burning disposal option and leave unsafe tree work to a qualified professional.
The July 21–22 Heat Advisory included in the earlier version of this guide has expired. This update does not rely on that advisory. Burn restrictions can change, so check the county’s current outdoor burning information before making plans.
What does the Stage 1 burn ban mean for tree debris?
It means branches, pruning debris, leaves, and brush cannot be burned as residential yard waste. The Snohomish County Fire Marshal says the Stage 1 restriction suspends residential open burning in unincorporated Snohomish County, including burning covered by an existing permit.
Limited recreational and cooking fires may be allowed under specific rules. However, a fire used to dispose of debris is not a recreational fire. Do not place branches or yard waste in a fire pit and treat it as a recreational fire.
The county announced that the restriction began June 22, 2026, and was expected to remain through August unless conditions changed. That schedule is not a guarantee. Confirm the status on the day you plan any outdoor fire.
What should I do with branches and brush?
Choose a non-burning option based on the size, location, and condition of the debris. Curbside yard-waste service, an approved organics facility, chipping, mulching, or a managed brush pile may be possible. Availability and acceptance rules vary by provider.
| What you have | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| Small twigs, leaves, and clippings | Check your yard-waste provider’s accepted materials and container rules. |
| Loose branches that can be handled safely from the ground | Ask your collection provider or an organics facility about length and diameter limits. |
| A large brush pile | Keep it away from roads, sidewalks, utility equipment, and building access while arranging chipping or hauling. |
| Heavy limbs, hung branches, or storm damage | Keep people away. Do not pull, cut, or climb. Request a professional assessment. |
| Debris touching or close to electrical lines | Stop and contact the utility first. |
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency lists curbside collection, organics facilities, composting, mulching, and managed piling as alternatives to burning yard waste. Confirm local service details before loading or transporting material.
What can I check safely from the ground?
Limit your check to areas you can see without climbing, cutting, pulling, or entering a drop zone. A ground-level walk can help you decide who to contact. It cannot prove that a tree is safe.
- Look for recently fallen limbs near the home, driveway, play area, parking area, or walkway.
- Notice branches resting on the roof or caught in another tree. Do not climb onto the roof or stand beneath them.
- Check whether a brush pile blocks a gate, driveway, fire access route, or utility equipment.
- Look from the ground for dead or broken limbs over places where people regularly pass.
- Note debris collected against a structure, under a deck, or beside an outdoor heat source.
- Take photos from a safe distance for a property owner, utility, permit office, or tree professional.
Do not shake a tree, tug on a hanging branch, use a ladder, or make a test cut. A limb under tension can move in an unexpected way. Photos can support a conversation, but a tree’s condition should not be diagnosed conclusively from a photo alone.
What if a tree or branch is near a power line?
Contact the utility before arranging private tree work near electrical lines. Do not try to identify the type of wire or estimate clearance from a ladder.
Snohomish County PUD’s tree-maintenance guidance says work within 10 feet of a primary conductor must be performed by a qualified electrical worker. The utility can review trees around its lines and determine whether utility vegetation work is involved.
If a line is on the ground, stay at least 30 feet away and report it to the utility. If the line is sparking, causing a fire, touching an occupied vehicle, or creating another immediate life-safety danger, call 911 as well. Do not approach the line, touch nearby debris, or drive over it.
Do I need permission before tree work?
It depends on the tree’s location, the property’s jurisdiction, and whether protected land or public right-of-way is involved. Check before work begins if the tree may be in a Native Growth Protection Area, Critical Area Protection Area, critical-area buffer, recorded landscaping area, shared HOA tract, or county right-of-way.
For property in unincorporated Snohomish County, Planning and Development Services directs hazardous-tree and tree-permit questions to Ask Permit Tech. County guidance also says trees in protected areas may require review, even when the work appears limited.
If the property is inside city limits, contact that city. County rules do not replace city codes. Renters should notify the property owner or manager rather than authorizing tree removal themselves. HOA members should also check ownership and recorded tract rules before work in shared space.
For more detail, see the county’s information about Native Growth Protection Areas and Critical Area Protection Areas.
When is private tree-service help appropriate?
Professional help is appropriate when the work cannot be completed safely from the ground with ordinary yard tools. This includes heavy limbs, hanging branches, roofline work, climbing, chainsaw work, large brush volumes, or a tree that may strike a building or occupied area.
Utility and permit questions come first. Once those responsibilities are clear, a tree professional can assess the private-property work, explain reasonable options, and plan debris handling. Tree pruning or removal can address a specific condition, but no tree service can guarantee that a property will not experience a fire.
A simple Snohomish County decision checklist
- Is there an immediate danger? For fire, sparking, a downed line, or a threat to life, stay away and call 911. Report electrical hazards to the utility.
- Is the debris near a power line? Contact the utility before private tree work.
- Are you planning to burn it? Do not burn residential tree or yard debris during the current Stage 1 restriction.
- Is the tree in a protected area, HOA tract, or right-of-way? Contact the correct city, county, HOA, or public-works office before work.
- Can the loose debris be handled safely from the ground? Check curbside, organics, chipping, or mulching options.
- Does the job involve climbing, a roof, heavy limbs, a chainsaw, or hung material? Keep the area clear and request professional help.
Request a Tree Assessment
If you need help deciding the safest next step for a tree on your property, request a tree assessment from Comprehensive Tree Services.
Information can change. Check linked sources for current restrictions, permits, and local guidance.
Send a correction
