Lansing, MI Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Lansing, MI, 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 issued by
- City Forester, written permit
- Covers
- Highway, park, and boulevard trees
- Not covered
- Trees on private property
- Exempt
- Public Service Dept., after notifying Forester
Summary
Lansing requires a written permit from the City Forester before anyone may remove, destroy, cut, trim, or otherwise injure a tree, plant, or shrub in a City highway, park, or boulevard.
No person shall, without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the City Forester, remove, destroy, break, cut, deface, trim or in any way injure or interfere with any tree, plant or shrub in any highway, park or boulevard of the City. This section does not apply to the Department of Public Service after having notified the City Forester.
(Ord. No. 749, 4-13-87)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Lansing Codified Ordinances § 688.01 bars removing, destroying, breaking, cutting, defacing, trimming, or otherwise injuring or interfering with any tree, plant, or shrub located in a City highway, park, or boulevard, without first obtaining a written permit from the City Forester. The permit requirement covers publicly located trees in the right-of-way and City parks: it does not reach trees on private property. The Department of Public Service is exempt from the permit requirement, but only after notifying the City Forester before doing the work. The offense is enforced under the Chapter 688 general penalty for trees, plants and shrubs.
Violations & Fines
Removing, cutting, or damaging a tree, plant, or shrub in a Lansing street, park, or boulevard without a City Forester permit violates § 688.01, punishable as a misdemeanor under the Chapter 688 general penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own Lansing property?
Who issues the removal permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lansing
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