When a tree comes out, the best time to plan the next one is before the stump is ground. Kirkland’s Tree Planting Rebate pays part of the cost. In 2026 it offers up to $150 per tree, with a maximum of $500 per property (and $1,000 lifetime). By the city’s count, 251 Kirkland neighbours have planted 905 trees through it.
Two ways to get the money
| Rebate | Certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| You pay first? | Yes, then get a check | No, the city mails a pre-paid certificate |
| Step 1 | Pass the online tree planting course (over 70%) | Same |
| Step 2 | Buy a listed or approved tree, plant it | Get a price at a participating WSNLA nursery, apply online with a signed maintenance agreement |
| Step 3 | Submit the online form: W-9, photo of the planted tree, itemised receipt, photo of the nursery tag | Certificate mailed within 2 weeks; buy and plant; send a photo |
| 2026 deadline | Planted within 90 days of submitting; submit by November 30, 2026 | Certificates expire November 30, 2026 |
Don’t buy the tree before passing the course. The city’s instructions are explicit, and a tree bought first may not qualify.
Picking a replacement that will work
- Space. A Douglas fir needs room to be 100+ feet tall one day. On a small Norkirk lot, a vine maple, serviceberry or Pacific dogwood may be smarter.
- Wires and view. Keep tall species away from overhead lines and out of a neighbour’s lake view.
- Root rot sites. Don’t replant a Douglas fir where a fir just died of laminated root rot; the fungus survives in old roots. Western redcedar and broadleaf trees are more tolerant.
- Call 811 at least two business days before digging.
Replanting after a Landmark removal
A Landmark permit requires three replacement trees from the Landmark Tree Mitigation List, recorded against the property ($305). Ask the rebate program before buying whether required mitigation trees qualify.
Replacing a removed tree? We can grind the stump and leave the spot ready to plant.
(425) 000-0000Common questions
Can I use the Kirkland tree rebate for required replacement trees?
The rebate program is run by the Storm and Surface Water Division to grow canopy. Check with the program contact before buying if the trees are a permit condition; ask before you purchase so the rebate is not refused.
Which trees qualify for the rebate?
Trees on the Kirkland Tree Rebate List are pre-approved, and the nursery tag must match the name on the list exactly. Most other trees are approved if they will reach at least 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, but you must get approval before buying.
What does the rebate not cover?
Delivery, installation, shrubs, bushes and flowers. It covers the tree, a few bags of compost and mulch, and up to two watering bags per tree.