Tree Preservation and Protection

The new ordinance revises Section 220 (Nuisances) and Section 240 (Tree Board, Trees and Shrubs) and includes the following provisions:

• Updates the City’s list of permissible street and park trees, list of prohibited street trees, and list of prohibited trees for anywhere in the City.
• Includes technical cleanup regarding ordinance provisions for tree care and planting within utility easements, public rights-of-way, and for property abutting public streets, avenues, boulevards, alleys, and trails.
• Adds a new article to Section 240 specific to tree protection and tree removal.
• The provisions in this section are specific to commercial development and substantial residential development (as already defined by ordinance) only.

Requires a tree protection and removal plan prior to issuing a permit for any such projects.

• The plan must show all existing trees on the property and identify ones for removal and ones that will be retained, and locations of tree protection fencing which is now required for all retained trees.
• Trees are protected based on their size and location on the lot.
• Tree fencing shall be installed according to tree diameter at breast height (DBH).

Tree replacement requirements (minimum caliper size and species) for any approved tree removals.

• Allow for a fee en lieu option for replacement. If a tree approved for removal is not replaced with another tree, a fee would be assessed as outlined below.

* All replacement trees shall be at least 2.5” caliper and selected from the species list managed by the Parks, Recreation + Tree Commission.

 Please click here to read the full ordinance.