Tree Protection in St. George, UT

If you live in St. George or are thinking about moving there, tree protection are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. St. George has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of tree protection, and some of them might surprise you.

Protected Tree Species

St. George's shade tree and beautification board is directed to encourage protection of rare, endangered, or historically significant trees citywide by pursuing Heritage Trees Act designation, rather than by direct species-specific regulation.

Key details: Responsible body: Shade tree and beautification board. Protection mechanism: Seek Heritage Trees Act designation. State law referenced: Utah Code § 63-11-57 et seq.. Historic ordinance cross-ref: Title 10-13E covers buildings, not trees. Related chapter penalty: Class B misdemeanor, § 7-4-13.

No penalty attaches to this advisory board duty itself. Unauthorized removal or abuse of a street, park, or heritage tree elsewhere in chapter 4 is a Class B misdemeanor under section 7-4-13, with restitution for the tree's value under ISA guidelines.

St. George is more permissive than most cities when it comes to protected tree species. That said, there are still limits.

Heritage & Protected Trees

St. George's Shade Tree and Beautification Board can nominate trees that are rare, endangered, or historically significant for heritage designation under Utah's Heritage Trees Act; licensed tree companies who damage a heritage tree risk losing their city business license.

Key details: Nominating body: Shade Tree & Beautification Board. Designation mechanism: Utah Heritage Trees Act nomination. City landmark-tree ordinance: None: relies on state Act. Company penalty: Business license revocation risk.

Damaging or removing a designated heritage tree without written authorization can trigger business license revocation proceedings against a licensed tree care company under section 3-1-19, plus standard tree-damage penalties under chapter 7-4.

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

Parkway Planting

St. George requires developers to plant street trees in the parkway strip that meet size, species and spacing standards from the city's community forestry program before a certificate of occupancy issues.

Key details: Minimum trunk size: 1.5 inches diameter. Container size: 24-inch box or larger. Triggers requirement: certificate of occupancy. Species source: community forestry program list. Penalty class: Class B misdemeanor.

Violations are a Class B misdemeanor under section 1-4-1, with restitution owed to the city based on ISA Tree and Shrub Valuation Guidelines; the city forester issues written notice giving the owner at least 10 days to correct the violation, and a licensed tree company that removes or damages a street tree without permission risks business license revocation.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, St. George gives residents more room on tree protection. 2 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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