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Appeals panel hears challenge to Edmonds tree-replacement requirement as a taking

Other Court · January 7, 2026
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Summary

An appellate panel heard arguments in Nathan Rimmer v. City of Edmonds over whether the city's tree-replacement rule is a regulatory limit or an unconstitutional taking under Nolan/Dolan. Counsel for the city said the code limits use and does not acquire property; counsel for Rimmer said the as-applied condition failed the required nexus and proportionality analysis and the trial court's mandamus and permit issuance leave a live federal 1983 claim.

An appellate panel heard arguments in Nathan Rimmer v. City of Edmonds over whether the city's tree-replacement requirement amounts to an unconstitutional taking when imposed as a condition on a building permit.

Jeff Terreday, counsel for the City of Edmonds, told the court the city's code regulates property use rather than acquiring property and therefore does not constitute a per se exaction. "But none of those constitute an exaction because there's there's no property being acquired," Terreday said, and he read provisions of the municipal code governing pruning, tree-retention plans and replacement obligations. He also cited Fox v. City of Pacific Grove and recent line of cases to argue the rule should not be treated as a per se…

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