Elgin, IL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Elgin, 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
- Permit required for
- Cutting, damaging, or moving any tree
- Issuing authority
- Development administrator
- Fine for no permit
- $200 per inch of tree dbh
- Exempt lots
- Single-family lots under 2 acres, occupied
- Replacement trigger
- Condition rating 1-3 only
- Unknown-species penalty
- 16 replacement trees minimum
Summary
Cutting down, damaging, or moving any tree within Elgin city limits requires a tree removal permit from the development administrator under § 19.16.040, unless the property qualifies for an exemption. Permits issue only for dead, dying, diseased, hazardous, or forestry-justified trees, and removing a tree without one carries a $200-per-inch-of-diameter fine under § 19.16.100(B).
It shall be unlawful for any person to cut down, destroy, remove or move, or effectively destroy through damaging, or authorize the cutting down, destroying, removing, moving or damaging of any tree, unless exempted under section 19.16.030, without first obtaining a tree removal permit. Applications for a tree removal permit shall be submitted to the development administrator. The fee for such permit shall be covered by the cost of building permit or zoning petition fee. A.Tree removal permits shall be issued for the following reasons:1.The tree is dead or dying;2.The tree is diseased;3.The tree is damaged or injured to the extent that it is likely to die or become diseased, or that constitutes a hazard to persons or property; or4.Removal of the tree is consistent with good forestry practices.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
030: single-family residentially zoned lots under 2 acres with an occupied residence, commercial nurseries or orchards, land under an annexation or development agreement approved before February 13, 2013, parkway trees within a public right-of-way, and property owned by the city, state, federal government, school or forest preserve districts, counties, townships, Elgin Community College, or public utilities. 040). The application must include the applicant's and contractor's contact information, a tree survey identifying the species, size, and condition of the tree, the reason for removal, and a letter of credit equal to the cost of replacing the trees removed; work tied to a building permit must also come with a full tree preservation plan.
050, are based on a certified arborist's six-point condition rating and the tree's species group; only trees rated 1 (excellent) through 3 (fair) must be replaced, and replacement stock must come from higher-value Species Groups A and B. 080, so long as the development administrator documents that authorization in writing. 090).
Violations & Fines
Removing, damaging, or moving a tree without the required permit triggers a fine of $200 per inch of trunk diameter measured at breast height under § 19.16.100(B), and any tree removed unlawfully must still be replaced with equal-caliper trees of at least 2.5-inch caliper (§ 19.16.100(E)); if the removed tree's diameter or species can't be determined, the violator must plant 16 replacement trees instead (§ 19.16.100(F)). The city can also issue a stop-work order for noncompliance with an approved preservation plan and seek injunctive relief on top of any fine (§ 19.16.100(D), (G)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Elgin?
Is my property exempt from Elgin's tree permit rule?
What happens if I remove a tree in Elgin without a permit?
Can I remove a hazardous tree in Elgin without waiting for a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elgin
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.