Minneapolis, MN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Minneapolis, MN, 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 trigger
- intensive vegetation/tree clearing
- Where it applies
- MR Overlay District only
- Exempt
- dead, diseased, invasive, emergency removal
- Enforcement
- misdemeanor, § 535.1610(c)
- Issuing authority
- zoning administrator
Summary
Minneapolis requires a vegetation permit before clearing trees, shrubs, or other vegetation in shore impact zones, bluff impact zones, wetland buffers, and other sensitive areas of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay District; unpermitted clearing is a misdemeanor.
(c)Activities allowed with a vegetation permit.(1)Only the following intensive vegetation clearing activities are allowed with a vegetation permit:a.Clearing of vegetation that is dead, diseased and or infested, dying, or hazardous.b.Clearing to prevent the spread of diseases or insect pests.c.Clearing to remove invasive non-native species.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Inside the MR Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay District, the mapped strip of land along the river corridor, cutting live vegetation in shore impact zones, bluff impact zones, wetland/drainage buffers, native plant communities, or significant vegetative stands identified in the MRCCA Plan requires a vegetation permit from the zoning administrator before work starts. Routine lawn/garden maintenance, emergency removals, and clearing of dead, diseased, dying, or invasive vegetation are exempt. Permitted clearing must be the minimum necessary, sited to limit erosion and protect river views, and paired with a vegetation restoration plan. Outside this overlay district, the zoning code protects significant trees only as a development-review standard, not a standalone removal permit.
Violations & Fines
Clearing regulated vegetation without a permit, or violating any MRCCA standard, is a misdemeanor under § 535.1610(c), enforced by the zoning administrator regardless of whether a permit was actually required for that activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Minneapolis?
What if the tree is dead or diseased?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
Compare Minneapolis to another location·View the Minnesota landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle tree removal & heritage trees.