Manitou Springs, CO Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Manitou Springs, CO, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Standard
- Zero net tree loss on public property
- Permit needed for
- Cut, trim, prune, remove trees in ROW
- Mitigation options
- Replant, over-plant, or reimburse city
- Approving official
- Director of Parks and Recreation
- Private trees
- Not covered unless nuisance or heritage
Summary
Cutting, pruning or removing any tree or shrub in a Manitou Springs street right-of-way or on other city property requires a permit first. Municipal Code Section 12.38.080 sets a zero-net-tree-loss standard on public property and requires mitigation, replacement or reimbursement for any tree lost.
The city maintains a zero net tree loss standard on public property. The preference is to preserve the tree with pruning first prior to removal. No person shall remove or destroy any tree or plant in the public right-of-way without first having a plan approved by the director and/or their designee for the mitigation of the loss of such tree or plant. ... D.Any person desiring to plant, cut, trim, prune, remove or destroy any tree or shrub within the public right-of-way of any street or sidewalk, or upon other city-owned property within the city, must first submit an application for a permit.
Full Breakdown
080 of the Tree Care chapter holds Manitou Springs to a zero net tree loss standard on public property, with a stated preference for pruning over removal wherever a tree can be saved. Before anyone removes or destroys a tree or plant in a public right-of-way, the director of Parks and Recreation, or their designee, must approve a mitigation plan. The loss must be offset in one of three ways: replanting an equivalent tree or plant of the same species and size in an approved location; planting one or more trees whose combined value equals or exceeds what was lost; or reimbursing the city for the tree's value if the director determines a like-for-like replacement is not feasible near the site.
Subsection D requires anyone who wants to plant, cut, trim, prune, remove or destroy a tree or shrub in a public street or sidewalk right-of-way, or on other city-owned property, to first file a permit application naming the applicant, the person doing the work, the species involved, and the location, along with a written hold-harmless agreement protecting the city. The director inspects the site and issues the permit only if removal or pruning is found desirable. 090, brings separate private-property obligations. 080(D)(3).
Violations & Fines
Removing, cutting or damaging a public tree without the required permit and mitigation plan is unlawful under Section 12.38.060(A) and Section 12.38.080, and each violation the director documents is treated as a separate offense under Section 12.38.060(E), punishable under Section 12.38.110 in addition to the mitigation value the director places on the tree removed or damaged in violation of the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the parkway strip in front of my Manitou Springs home?
What does Manitou Springs mean by zero net tree loss?
Can I remove a tree on my own private property without a city permit?
What happens if I remove a public tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manitou Springs
Compare Manitou Springs to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in El Paso County handle tree removal & heritage trees.