How Bowling Green Handles Tree Protection: A Practical Guide

Bowling Green maintains 105 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with tree protection. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bowling Green falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tree Replacement Requirements

Bowling Green Code § 26-8 requires that approved removals of public trees include re-seeding or replanting the disturbed area. Replacement species for public planting come from § 26-5 (Public Tree Planting) and must avoid the undesirable list in § 26-5.02. For commercial/multi-family development, the Warren County/BG Joint Zoning Ordinance Article 4.6.8 requires landscape replacement and interior VUA trees as a condition of site plan approval. Private-property tree removal does not trigger City replacement.

Key details: Public Tree Replanting: Required where § 26-8 directs. Species Source: § 26-5 (esp. § 26-5.02 undesirable list). Site Plan Authority: Joint Zoning Ord. Art. 4.6.8. VUA Interior Standard: ≥5% landscape + 1 tree/island. Permitting Body: City County Planning Commission of Warren County.

Failure to install required Joint Zoning Article 4.6.8 landscape trees blocks Certificate of Occupancy. Removing a public tree without replanting where § 26-8 requires it triggers § 26-10 abatement / § 26-11 penalties / § 26-12 enforcement. Replacement trees that die during the City's establishment expectation can shift replanting responsibility back to the developer.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Bowling Green does not maintain a regulated 'heritage tree' registry under Chapter XXVI. The Bowling Green Tree Board and the Sierra Club of Bowling Green jointly run the 'Big Trees of Bowling Green' inventory at bgky.org/tree/big-trees-of-bg, which is recognition-only and does not create extra removal restrictions. Statewide, the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KRS 149) maintains the Kentucky Champion Trees registry (96+ species, 10 also National Champions). Champion status is honorary and does not preempt § 26-8.

Key details: City Category: 'Public tree' (§ 26-2) — no heritage tier. Community Registry: 'Big Trees of Bowling Green' — recognition only. Partners: BG Tree Board + Sierra Club of BG. State Program: Kentucky Champion Trees (Division of Forestry, KRS 149). Listed Species: 96+ KY species (10 also National Champions).

No additional penalties for damaging a 'champion' tree beyond § 26-8 / § 26-11 if it is a public tree, or KRS 364.130 (treble damages) if it is on another person's private land. Removing a champion tree from your own private property is legal but irreplaceable as a Big Trees of Bowling Green entry.

The rules around heritage & protected trees in Bowling Green lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Tree Removal Permits

Bowling Green requires City approval ONLY for removal, cutting, or disturbance of PUBLIC trees (City-owned trees and trees in the public right-of-way) under Chapter XXVI § 26-8. Removal of a tree on purely private property does not require a City permit — Kentucky has no statewide private-tree protection law. Tree care companies operating within the City fall under § 26-9, with abatement under § 26-10 and penalties under § 26-11.

Key details: Permit Trigger: PUBLIC trees only (§ 26-8). Private Trees: No City permit required. Permit Contact: City Public Works — 270-393-3628. Tree Companies: Code § 26-9 standards. Enforcement Path: §§ 26-10, 26-11, 26-12 + BGCENB.

Unauthorized removal/cutting/disturbance of a public tree triggers § 26-10 abatement, § 26-11 penalties, and § 26-12 enforcement — referable to the Bowling Green Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board (§ 2-21) for civil fines authorized by KRS 65.8801–8839. Tree care company misconduct can also be referred to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office under the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act (the State sued a local tree service in 2023 for price gouging under KRS 367.170).

Tree Ordinances

Bowling Green's tree code is consolidated in Chapter XXVI (Public Trees) of the Code of Ordinances, sections 26-1 through 26-12. The Bowling Green Community Tree Advisory Board (§ 26-4) advises the City; § 26-5 governs public tree planting and species selection; § 26-6 addresses tree topping; § 26-7 sets vegetation maintenance and ANSI A300 pruning standards; § 26-8 requires City approval to remove a public tree; § 26-9 regulates tree care companies; §§ 26-10–26-12 cover abatement, penalties, and enforcement. Bowling Green has been a Tree City USA continuously since 1994.

Key details: Primary Chapter: Code Ch. XXVI (Public Trees), §§ 26-1 to 26-12. Tree Board Authority: § 26-4 — established 1994. Tree City USA: Continuous since 1994. Board Contact: 225 East Third Ave., BG — 270-393-3249. Pruning Standard: ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001.

Major Chapter XXVI violations: (1) removing/cutting/disturbing a public tree without § 26-8 approval — abatement under § 26-10, penalties under § 26-11; (2) topping a public tree contrary to § 26-6; (3) failing to maintain 15-ft ROW clearance or pruning a public tree outside ANSI A300 standards (§ 26-7); (4) tree care company operating contrary to § 26-9; (5) interfering with City tree work (§ 26-3). Adjacent enforcement: IPMC § 302.4 (10-inch weed/grass — Ch. 27); KRS 364.130 (cutting timber on another's land — treble damages).

The Bottom Line

Bowling Green's tree protection rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bowling Green is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Bowling Green's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.