Eagle Mountain's Tree Protection: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles tree protection a little differently. In Eagle Mountain, Utah, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Eagle Mountain's urban forester works with the parks and community development departments to identify, mark and preserve historic and notable trees under EMMC 7.10.110, tied into the state Utah Heritage Tree Act and register.

Key details: Governing section: EMMC 7.10.110. Administered by: City urban forester. State tie-in: Utah Heritage Tree Act/Register. Applies to: Public or private property trees. Separate penalty in section: None; falls back to 7.10.090/.100.

The heritage tree section itself sets no separate penalty; damaging or removing a designated heritage tree located on a public street or city-owned property would fall under EMMC 7.10.090's prohibition on injuring city trees or EMMC 7.10.100's removal-authorization requirement, both enforceable through Chapter 4.10 EMMC's administrative code enforcement process, which issues a written notice of violation with at least a 10-day compliance deadline before civil penalties accrue.

Eagle Mountain is more permissive than most cities when it comes to heritage & protected trees. That said, there are still limits.

Parkway Planting

Every new arterial and collector street in Eagle Mountain gets developer-installed, irrigated street trees in the park strip under EMMC 16.35.080, with a minimum 1.5-inch trunk caliper, Class I species pulled from the city-approved list, and spacing that tightens from 50 feet on parkways and arterials down to 35 feet on minor collectors.

Key details: Trunk caliper: At least 1.5 inches, 8 inches above soil. Species: Class I only, from city-approved list. Spacing: 35-50 feet by street classification. Clearance: 8 ft over sidewalks, 14 ft over roads. Utility setback: 10 ft poles/hydrants, 15 ft driveways.

Street trees are required improvements under EMMC 16.30.060, so a developer's completion bond or escrow is not released until the city inspects and accepts the plantings, with 10 percent held back for a one-year warranty covering dead tree and shrub replacement. Eagle Mountain can extend that warranty period where poor past performance by the applicant or suspect soil is documented on the record.

Protected Tree Species

Eagle Mountain protects trees with historic value, unique quality, significant girth or height, or protected-species status by designating them heritage trees under EMMC 7.10.020. Removing any tree or shrub from a public street or city-owned property, including heritage trees, is unlawful without written authorization from the urban forester, who administers the city's Heritage Tree Register.

Key details: Governing chapter: EMMC 7.10, Tree Planting and Care. Heritage tree criteria: historic value, unique quality, girth/height, or protected species. Removal authorization: written permit from urban forester, expires in 30 days. Enforcing official: Eagle Mountain urban forester. Program: Utah Heritage Tree Register candidate tracking.

Removing a tree or shrub from a public street or city-owned property without the urban forester's written authorization is unlawful under EMMC 7.10.100, and any authorization issued expires automatically after 30 days. The city can condemn and order removal of any unauthorized planting, and enforcement runs through the urban forester in coordination with the streets manager and code enforcement. The chapter does not set a stand-alone fine schedule for tree violations.

The Bottom Line

Eagle Mountain'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 Eagle Mountain is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Eagle Mountain can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.