Naperville, IL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Naperville, IL, 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
- Trunk 4+ inches diameter
- Permit fee
- $40 per application
- Covers
- Large residential & nonresidential parcels
- Unpermitted-removal fine
- Up to $500 per tree
Summary
Naperville, Illinois requires a City permit and $40 fee before removing any live tree with a trunk 4 inches or more in diameter on covered private parcels, per Code § 5-10-5.
No live tree(s) with a trunk size of four (4) inches or greater in diameter, as measured five (5) feet from the ground may be removed without first obtaining a valid tree removal permit. ...A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be charged for each tree removal permit to cover the cost of staff review. ...violators of this Section may be fined up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each tree removed without, or in violation of, a permit or preservation plan.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 101).
Full Breakdown
Naperville's tree preservation standard applies to residential parcels over one and a half acres, all nonresidential private parcels, and any parcel needing a landscape plan in this DuPage County city. No live tree with a trunk four inches or more in diameter, measured five feet up, can come down without a tree removal permit from the Department of Public Works. The $40 permit covers staff review; approval turns on factors like safety hazard, disease, good forestry practice, or an approved landscape plan. Skipping the permit brings mandatory replacement trees plus a fine of up to $500 per tree.
Violations & Fines
Removing a covered tree without a permit requires planting replacement trees sized to the trunk removed, plus a fine of up to $500 per tree and possible compensation for the tree's assessed value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Naperville property?
What's the penalty for removing a protected tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Naperville
Compare Naperville to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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