West Jordan's Tree Protection: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles tree protection a little differently. In West Jordan, Utah, there are 2 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

West Jordan's Urban Forestry Division and Parks Department keep a Heritage Tree List of rare or historically significant trees under City Code 13-18-15; any citizen can nominate a public or private tree, but the listing itself carries no removal restriction beyond the standard public-tree consent rules.

Key details: Administered by: Urban Forestry Division and Parks Department. Eligible trees: rare or historic, public or private. Who can nominate: any citizen. Nominee requirement: must be a woody plant generally called a tree. Companion program: Big Tree Registry under § 13-18-16.

The registry sections themselves create no offense or penalty; nomination and listing are voluntary and administrative. If a heritage-listed tree happens to be a public tree, the standard chapter 18 protections still apply, meaning unauthorized removal or topping without Urban Forester consent remains unlawful under sections 13-18-5 and 13-18-10, carrying the treble-damages exposure of section 13-18-13(B).

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

Parkway Planting

In West Jordan's City Center zone, street trees must go in a five-foot minimum amenity zone between the curb and walking path, and must be at least 2.5-inch caliper spaced 20 to 30 feet on center, under City Code 13-5I-7, with clustering allowed only by planning commission approval.

Key details: Amenity zone (planting strip) width: minimum 5 feet between curb and walking path. Street tree caliper: minimum 2.5 inches at installation. Street tree spacing: 20 to 30 feet on center. Clustering trees: requires planning commission approval. Zone scope: City Center zone (Article 13-5I) only.

Installing street trees below the required 2.5-inch caliper, spacing them closer than twenty feet on center without planning commission approval for clustering, or placing structures in the amenity zone without city site design approval are violations of the City Center development standards, enforceable through the standard site plan and building permit review process. Chapter 5I sets no separate penalty, so a confirmed violation defaults to the citywide penalty in section 1-14B-1, a Class B misdemeanor.

The Bottom Line

West Jordan'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 West Jordan is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that West Jordan 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.