Minnetonka, MN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Minnetonka, 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
- Governing section
- Minnetonka City Code § 314.01, Tree Protection
- Redevelopment removal cap
- 25% of WPA, 35% of high priority trees, 50% of significant trees
- Oak trimming restriction
- Counts as removal between April 1st and July 15th
- Subdivision saved trees
- Stay on the lot two years after final inspection
- Penalty per tree or shrub
- $500 per inch dsh or foot of height, up to $2,000
- Replacement for illegal removal
- 2:1 based on dsh or height
Summary
In the City of Minnetonka, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Section 314.01 of the City Code limits removal of protected trees whenever construction, site work or redevelopment happens on a property. Redevelopment caps removal at 25 percent of a woodland preservation area, 35 percent of high priority trees and 50 percent of significant trees, with replanting required.
g) “Removal/Removed” - the physical removal of a tree or: (1) girdling; (2) injury to 30 percent or more of the trunk circumference; (3) pruning of 30% or more of the crown; (4) trimming an oak between April 1st and July 15th; or (5) compacting, cutting, filling, or paving 30 percent of the critical root zone for all tree species. ... 7. Tree Removal. a) General Standards. The removal of protected trees during construction, site work, development, or redevelopment activities must comply with the following: 1 ... 0. Violations a) Each protected tree that is removed in violation of ordinance requirements is a separate violation of the city code. b) A tree or shrub that was required by the city to be saved but was removed must be replaced at a rate of 2:1 based on dsh for deciduous species and height for conifers. The city may also impose a financial penalty equal to $500 for each inch of dsh or foot of height removed, not to exceed $2,000 for each tree or shrub.
Full Breakdown
Minnetonka City Code § 314.01 applies whenever construction, site work, development, or redevelopment activities occur on a property. Where no such work is underway, the chart in subdivision 7 says removal is not restricted, except for the general standards in subdivision 7(a). Those standards require principal structures to be located to maximize tree preservation, bar removal from a conservation easement without city staff approval, and require trees saved under a subdivision approval to remain on the lot for two years after the final building permit inspection or certificate of occupancy. A healthy protected tree removed by unnatural causes within three years before a redevelopment or subdivision application is treated as if it were still standing.
The code defines removal broadly. Besides physically cutting a tree, it counts girdling, injury to 30 percent or more of the trunk circumference, pruning 30 percent or more of the crown, trimming an oak between April 1st and July 15th, and compacting, cutting, filling or paving 30 percent of the critical root zone. The critical root zone is 1.5 feet of radius for each inch of diameter at standard height, measured 4.5 feet above the base.
Any application involving construction, site work or redevelopment needs a tree preservation plan with a spreadsheet inventory and a site plan showing each protected tree and its critical root zone. For redevelopment of single-family property, the chart allows removal of 25 percent of the woodland preservation area on the lot, 35 percent of high priority trees and 50 percent of significant trees. Non-single-family sites use the same percentages measured across the site. The city council can allow more for a greater public good, such as affordable housing or a public road, or through a variance under Section 300.07.
Mitigation follows removal outside the basic tree removal area. A significant tree is replaced with two inches dsh per tree removed. In a woodland preservation area, replacement is one inch for each inch of deciduous diameter and one foot for each foot of conifer height. Staff approve the mitigation plan, and cash in lieu goes to the city's natural resources fund when planting on site is not possible. Tree protection fencing must be installed before any work, including tree removal.
Violations & Fines
Each protected tree removed in violation of Section 314.01 is a separate violation of the city code. A tree or shrub the city required to be saved but that was removed must be replaced at 2:1 based on dsh for deciduous species and height for conifers. The city can also impose a financial penalty of $500 for each inch of dsh or foot of height removed, capped at $2,000 for each tree or shrub. The same penalty applies to a disturbed conservation easement area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Minnetonka lot?
What counts as removing a tree under the Minnetonka code?
How much can be removed during redevelopment of a single-family lot?
What is the fine for removing a tree I was required to save?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minnetonka
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle tree removal & heritage trees.