Idaho Falls, ID Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Idaho Falls, ID, 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 issuer
- Director of Parks or City Forester
- Covers
- Public Trees and Street Tree plantings
- Bond
- May require stump removal within 30 days
- Not covered
- Private trees not on the right-of-way
- Penalty
- Infraction fine under § 8-9-21
Summary
Cutting, pruning, or removing any Public Tree in Idaho Falls requires written permission from the Parks Director or City Forester first, and unpermitted work on a city-owned tree is a code violation even if it fronts your own property.
Unless exempt as provided by this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to perform or caused to be performed any of the following acts without having first obtained written permission from the Director or the City Forester:
(1) Public Trees:
(a) Prune, cut or remove any portion of a Public Tree.
(b) Attach any object to a Public Tree in any manner that is reasonably likely to harm or materially injure the bark of such Public Tree.
(c) Cut, damage, or destroy the bark of any Public Tree.
(d) Dig, trench, excavate or place any hazardous, chemical or substance within the Critical Root Zone of any Public Tree.
(e) Plant any Public Tree.
(2) Street Trees:
(a) Plant any Street Tree.
(B) The Director or City Forester may, as a condition for the issuance of such permit, require the applicant to post a cash bond or other security acceptable to the Director or City Forester, the condition for which is the permittee's removal of the stump of said Tree within thirty (30) days of the date of the issuance of such permit.
Full Breakdown
Idaho Falls City Code § 8-9-9 requires anyone in the city to get written permission from the Director of Parks and Recreation or the City Forester before pruning, cutting, removing, or attaching anything to a Public Tree, or before digging near a Public Tree's critical root zone. Planting a Street Tree also needs sign-off. The permit can carry a bond requirement so the stump gets pulled within 30 days. The rule covers city-owned trees and street-right-of-way plantings under Idaho Falls' Community Forestry chapter (Title 8, Chapter 9): it does not reach a Private Tree entirely on your own lot, which the code defines as any tree that isn't a Public Tree.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted work on a Public Tree is an infraction under § 8-9-21, with fines set by Council resolution; each Tree involved can count as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city permit to cut down a tree in my Idaho Falls backyard?
Who approves Idaho Falls tree work on city-owned trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Idaho Falls
Compare Idaho Falls to another location·View the Idaho landscaping rules overview
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