3 rules for unincorporated Lake County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Libertyville require tree removal permits for trees 6-10 inch DBH and larger on private property. Waukegan and Gurnee manage parkway/right-of-way trees. The Lake County WDO requires tree preservation during development.
Lake Forest and Highland Park designate heritage/landmark trees, typically oaks, hickories, and specimen hardwoods 24+ inches DBH. Removal requires City Council or commission approval, rarely granted except for imminent safety hazards.
Lake Forest requires 1:1 caliper-inch replacement for permitted removals (3:1 for heritage). Highland Park enforces 2:1 caliper-inch ratio. Libertyville requires replacement or fee-in-lieu to the tree fund. Replacements must use approved native species.
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