The following activities are allowed without a tree removal/vegetation maintenance permit, subject to any other applicable city regulations:
A. Routine landscaping and maintenance of vegetation, such as pruning and planting, removal of invasive/exotic species, management of brush and seedling trees. Pruning should comply with ANSI A300 (Part 1 – 2017), Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Management – Standard Practices, to maintain long-term health. This includes maintenance of trees and vegetation required to be retained or planted through a land use permit such as a subdivision, site plan review, or conditional use permit.
B. Outside of the Mixed Use Town Center and High School Road zoning districts, removal of some healthy significant trees (see BIMC 16.18.130, Definitions) is allowed without a permit, except for trees required to meet any tree retention provisions of this chapter, BIMC 18.15.010 (Landscaping, screening, and tree retention, protection and replacement), Chapter 17.12 BIMC (Subdivision Standards) or other applicable provisions of the code.
1. On a lot that is larger than one acre, a property owner may remove up to six significant trees in any 36-month period without a permit.
2. On a lot one acre or less in size, a property owner may remove up to three significant trees in any 36-month period without a permit.
3. After the tree removal limits of this section have been reached, see BIMC 16.18.050, 16.18.060, and 16.18.070 related to obtaining a tree removal/vegetation maintenance permit.
C. Removal of trees and ground cover in emergency situations involving immediate danger to life or structure or substantial fire hazards. If this activity would ordinarily require a tree removal/vegetation maintenance permit, it shall be obtained as soon as possible after the emergency situation is stabilized.
D. Removal of dead or fallen trees. The city encourages property owners to leave dead trees in place for ecological benefit such as wildlife snags or nurse logs where possible. If a standing dead tree poses a hazard, creating a shorter wildlife snag is recommended.
E. Routine maintenance activities in rights-of-way and required roadside buffers, including removal of hazard trees and invasive/exotic species, trimming of overgrown hedges, thinning and planting to replace removed vegetation to control vegetation on road and utility rights-of-way (see Chapter 12.04 BIMC).
F. The installation and maintenance of fire hydrants, water meters, pumping stations, and street furniture by the city or utility companies or their contractors.
G. Pruning and limbing of significant trees that are required to be retained, to remove dead or hazardous branches, and to improve the tree’s form and long-term vitality; provided, that such work is done by an ISA certified arborist.
H. Voluntary wildfire mitigation activities, other than tree and vegetation removals requiring a permit in BIMC 16.18.050.A or Chapter 16.32 BIMC (Protection of Landmark Trees), within a 30-foot defensible space of habitable structures, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Vegetation removal underneath a propane tank;
2. For trees less than 30 feet in height, pruning up to 10 feet from the ground to remove ladder fuels, as long as pruning doesn’t exceed one-third of tree height;
3. Removal of trees to provide at least 18 feet between crowns;
4. Removal of trees within five feet of the furthest attached exterior point of a habitable structure.
Property owners may obtain assistance with wildfire mitigation activities from the Bainbridge Island fire department, the city arborist, and private tree professionals in accordance with city-prepared guidance. Further information can be obtained from the applicable sections of the fire code (Chapter 20.04 BIMC), the climate action plan, and the Bainbridge Island Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The fire department and department of planning and community development will maintain a checklist to provide guidance in implementing wildfire mitigation, and it is the intent that both the checklist and this code section will be reviewed annually to ensure they are consistent with best practices to mitigate wildfire danger. (Ord. 2021-07 § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 2018-19 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018)