Denver, CO Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Denver, CO, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- trees on public right-of-way/places
- Issuing authority
- City forester (Parks & Recreation)
- Unpermitted removal penalty
- up to treble appraised value
- Private-property construction trigger
- established trees in street setbacks
- Exempt trees
- dead, diseased, or nuisance species
Summary
Denver requires a city forester permit to remove any tree from the public right-of-way or other public place, and for certain established trees near street setbacks during residential demolition or construction.
It shall be unlawful to plant trees on, perform trunk injections of pesticides into trees on, or remove trees from, the public right-of-way or other public place without a permit issued by the city forester.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Under DRMC § 57-20, it's unlawful to remove (or plant, or trunk-inject pesticides into) a tree on the public right-of-way or other public place without a permit from the city forester. The forester can require mitigation, compensation for the tree's lost value under standard arborist appraisal methods, as a condition of approving removal, unless the tree is dead, diseased, structurally unsound, a nuisance species, or unavoidably damaged by emergency utility work. Separately, established trees (6-inch-plus trunk diameter) in the front or street-side setback of a residential zone lot can't be injured, damaged, or removed during demolition or construction without a permit under § 57-25. Removing a tree on purely private, non-setback property is not itself permit-gated.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted removal on public right-of-way or public place can draw a penalty up to treble the tree's appraised value, plus required replacement or mitigation payment (§ 57-24(2)-(3)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Denver?
What's the penalty for removing a city tree without a permit?
Can I remove a tree on my own private property freely?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
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