Pocatello, ID Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Pocatello, ID, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Protected tree size
- 8 inches diameter at 4.5 ft height
- Replacement ratio
- one 1.5-inch caliper tree per 4 in. removed
- Replacement species
- native or urban-forester-approved adapted species
- Corridor width, nonchannelized river
- 125 ft from high-water mark
- Review body
- site plan review committee / urban forester
Summary
Along the channelized Portneuf River and within 125 feet of its ordinary high-water mark elsewhere, section 17.04.160(E)(2)(b) requires Pocatello property owners to preserve trees 8 inches or greater in diameter where possible. Removal is allowed only for a water-related use, a hazard finding, or a nondesirable riparian species, and every removed tree must be replaced under the city's urban forester.
b. Trees of eight inches (8") or greater diameter measured at a height of four and one-half feet (4.5') shall be preserved where possible. Removal may be allowed under the following conditions: ... (3) In all cases where tree removal is necessary, replacement trees of a minimum of one and one-half inches (1.5") in caliper shall be provided at the rate of one replacement tree for every four inches (4") of caliper of total trees removed. Replacement trees shall be native or adapted species and shall be approved by the city's urban forester.
Full Breakdown
The Portneuf River Development Standards in section 17.04.160 apply to properties abutting the channelized river within city limits, and to land within 125 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of nonchannelized stretches and 75 feet of its tributaries, with City development engineering services determining the exact water mark. Within that riparian corridor, section 17.04.160(E)(2)(b) protects any tree 8 inches or greater in diameter measured 4.5 feet above grade. Removal is limited to three situations: the site plan review committee approves it to accommodate a water-related or water-dependent use; the city's urban forester determines the tree is hazardous or an undesirable riparian species; or replacement trees of at least 1.5 inches in caliper are supplied at a ratio of one new tree for every 4 inches of caliper removed, with the replacements required to be native or adapted species approved by the urban forester.
Section 17.04.160(E)(2)(c) further requires that any removal and replacement plan be submitted to and approved by the City before excavation, grading or construction begins, and section 17.04.160(E)(3) layers on a landscaping requirement that setback areas along the river stay landscaped or in native vegetation. All development along the river also goes through site plan review under section 17.04.160(C).
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected riparian tree without an approved plan is enforced under Title 17's general penalty at section 17.01.170(C): a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, and each day of noncompliance counted separately. The City may also withhold building or grading permits on the parcel until an approved replanting plan is in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut down a large tree near the Portneuf River?
What kind of tree do I have to plant if I remove one?
Do I need approval before removing a riverside tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pocatello
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