Hammond, IN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Hammond, IN, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Removal permit
- Required from City of Hammond, no fee
- Cost borne by
- Owner, including stump and limb chipping
- Emergency waiver
- Park Department may waive, but must be reported
- Emergency actors
- Park Dept, Street Dept or public utilities
- Maximum fine
- $500 per day, per violation
Summary
Removing a public tree from the tree lawn in front of a Hammond property, for construction or any other reason, requires a tree care permit from the city under § 105.18(A) of the Hammond Code of Ordinances, and the owner pays for the full removal, including stump grinding and chipping the limbs. Section 105.19 covers emergency removals after storm damage.
No person or property owner shall remove a tree or a boundary tree from the public tree lawn for the purpose of construction, or for any other reason, without first securing a tree care permit from the City of Hammond. The person or property owner shall bear the cost of complete removal, including the chipping of all limbs and removal of stump. ... In emergencies, when a tree or trees have been severely damaged by storms or other causes, the Park Department may waive the requirement for a Tree Care Permit. All removals of public trees under those conditions shall be reported to the city. ... The city’s Street Department or public utilities may act to trim or remove trees in emergency situations. ... Topping and the severe cutting back of limbs may be allowed by the Park Department under emergency situations.
Full Breakdown
16(D). The owner or property owner bears the full cost of the removal, which the code specifies includes chipping all the limbs and grinding out the stump, not just felling the trunk. 19 carves out the emergency situation: when a tree has been severely damaged by a storm or other cause, the Park Department may waive the permit requirement, but every removal done under that waiver still has to be reported to the city afterward. 18(C). 16(A), and the permit does not excuse the applicant from any other permit or license a different ordinance or state law requires for the same job.
Violations & Fines
Removing a public tree without the required permit, or without reporting an emergency removal as § 105.19 requires, exposes the offender to a fine of up to $500 per violation under § 105.99, with every day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The city can also enter the property under I.C. 36-1-6-2 to replant a tree removed in violation of the chapter, after giving everyone with an interest in the property a chance to fix it first, and can lien the property for the cost of that work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in front of my Hammond home?
Who pays for removing a public tree in Hammond?
Can I remove a storm-damaged tree right away without waiting for a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hammond
Compare Hammond to another location·View the Indiana landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.