Video: Seattle may limit tree-cutting by property owners

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SEATTLE - A new law being considered by City Council would restrict the ability of Seattle residents to cut down trees on their own property.

The idea is that big trees extend beyond the limits of private property, and that they have become part of the public character of a block or neighborhood.

The plan being considered would limit the number of trees local residents can remove to three per year.  

Laura Rothenberger remembers when the lot in front of her North Seattle home was covered with trees planted by Seattle pioneers.

"These trees were planted by Samuel and Josephine Denny in the 1870s," she said.

But nine trees that took a century to grow up on Rothenberger's neighboring lot came down in a couple of days. Stories like these are helping fuel the City Council plan.

"The fact is trees are so important, they take out air pollutants, they absorb carbon dioxide, they are part of the drainage system, they absorb water, they do many, many other things," Seattle City Council member Richard Conlin said.

For those reasons, Conlin says bigger, older trees really belong to all of us. But is it legal to keep homeowners from cutting their own trees?

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A plan being considered by Seattle City Council would limit the number of trees local residents can remove to three per year.  

Property rights attorneys argue this plan goes too far in opening up your yard to the city.

But Laura Rothenberger says trees make neighborhoods, and taking them away - even from private land - should require some kind of neighborhood involvement.

The council will vote on the ordinance in a couple of weeks. 

As restrictive as it may seem, some neighboring communities like Kirkland and Redmond allow even fewer tree removals.