Lafayette, IN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Lafayette, 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
- Permit required
- For removal, cutting or planting on public property
- Per-project fee
- $25
- Annual permit fee
- $100
- Insurance
- $1,000,000 liability required for contractors
- Exemption
- Storm/emergency work and routine maintenance
Summary
In the City of Lafayette, Indiana, removing, cutting or planting a tree or shrub on public property, or in a public area of private property, requires a permit under Municipal Code Section 8.06.200. Businesses doing the work need $1,000,000 liability coverage, and the city charges $25 for a single project or $100 for an annual permit.
A.A permit shall be obtained before any person may remove, cut or plant any tree or shrub on public property or public area(s) of private property within the city. ... C.Any person engaged in the business of removing, cutting or planting trees or shrubs on public property or public area(s) of private property shall be subject to the following:1.Applicant must file evidence of possession of liability insurance in the minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for bodily injury or death and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) property damage and worker's compensation insurance at statutory limits. The city shall be named as additional insured. ... D.The permit fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a per project permit. The permit fee for an annual permit shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00).
Full Breakdown
Section 8.06.200(A) of the Lafayette Municipal Code requires a permit before any person may remove, cut or plant a tree or shrub on public property or on a public area of private property, meaning parking lots and business entrances that pose a hazard to the traveling public. The City Forester, who administers tree matters under Section 8.06.120, can attach a condition requiring replacement planting from the city's approved tree list. Anyone in the business of removing, cutting or planting trees or shrubs on public property must, per Section 8.06.200(C), carry liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 for bodily injury or death and $100,000 for property damage, plus statutory workers' compensation, and must name the city as an additional insured; the applicant must also agree to follow ANSI A300 and ANSI Z133.1 tree-care standards.
Section 8.06.200(D) sets the fee at $25 for a single project or $100 for an annual permit covering multiple jobs. The permit requirement does not apply to work needed after storms or other emergencies, or to city-directed removal for sidewalk, sewer or pavement construction, and routine maintenance trimming under Section 8.06.240 needs no permit at all. Violations of the chapter, including unpermitted removal, fall under the chapter's general penalty clause.
Violations & Fines
Whoever violates Chapter 8.06, including removing, cutting or planting a public tree without the required permit, is subject to Section 8.06.990's fine of not more than $1,000, with each day the violation continues charged as a separate offense. The City Forester also has independent authority under Section 8.06.120 to order removal of a private tree assessed as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the right-of-way in front of my Lafayette home?
How much does a Lafayette tree work permit cost?
Is a permit required after storm damage knocks down a street tree in Lafayette?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette
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