Medford, OR Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

750) puts every tree on city-owned land and street rights-of-way under the Parks and Recreation Director's control. 725 requires a written permit before any person other than a city employee plants, prunes, root-prunes, removes, cuts above ground, or otherwise disturbs a public tree. Applicants submit a site or plat drawing showing the number, location, grade, species and reason for the work, plus the proposed planting or maintenance method, so staff can check the request against the city's adopted tree standards on file with the City Arborist.

The permit itself carries no fee and is valid for 90 days from issuance. Anyone who removes a tree must also dig the stump out to at least six inches below grade, and every removed tree must be replaced with a minimum 1-3/4 inch caliper tree chosen from the city's designated street tree list. 750, and the Manager may step in to remove or maintain a tree kept contrary to the adopted standards, billing the cost to the abutting owner. 735 lets the city order an abutting owner to take down a right-of-way tree that is a safety hazard, blocks access to a lot, is dead, diseased, or is heaving a sidewalk or curb. 750, and the Council will not overturn the Director's call unless it conflicts with the code or the adopted standards.