Aurora, IL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Aurora, IL, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Aurora Code § 47-10
- Applies to
- City-owned trees & shrubs only
- Valuation method
- ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal
- Enforced by
- City arborist
- Primary county
- Kane (also DuPage, Will, Kendall)
Summary
Anyone who injures, mutilates, or kills a tree or shrub on Aurora, Illinois city-owned property must pay its full replacement value, calculated under the ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal, as the city arborist determines.
If any individual causes the injury, mutilation, or death of a tree or shrub located on city-owned property, as determined by the arborist, the cost or repair of replacement of such tree, shrub, or other plant shall be born by the party in violation. The replacement value of trees and shrubs shall be determined in accordance with the then-current revision of "Guide for Plant Appraisal," by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, as published by the International Society of Arboriculture.
Full Breakdown
Aurora's tree code, Chapter 47 (Trees, Shrubs and Weeds), makes anyone who damages or destroys a tree or shrub on city-owned property, including parkway and median trees, liable for its replacement value, not just cleanup costs. The city arborist decides whether the tree was injured, mutilated, or killed and sets the dollar figure using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers' "Guide for Plant Appraisal," as published by the International Society of Arboriculture. Because this is a city ordinance, it applies uniformly citywide regardless of which of Aurora's four counties (Kane, DuPage, Will, Kendall) the property sits in.
Violations & Fines
Violators owe the arborist-determined replacement value of the damaged or destroyed tree or shrub. Chapter 47's general penalty section (§47-11) makes code violations a misdemeanor with fines and cost recovery per separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover trees on my own property in Aurora?
How is the replacement value calculated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.