Rockford, IL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Rockford, 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
- Fine range
- $50–$750 per day, per tree
- Covers
- right-of-way and city-owned trees
- Authority
- city forester (public works dept.)
- Not covered
- trees wholly on private property
Summary
Cutting down, damaging, or removing a tree in Rockford's public right-of-way or on city-owned property without the city forester's prior authorization is a separate violation for every tree, carrying daily fines under Chapter 27.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter is subject to fines of $50.00 to $750.00 per day. Each tree cut down, destroyed, damaged, removed or moved without prior authorization from the city forester shall constitute a separate offense.
Any entity or person who injures a public tree shall be held responsible for the cost of the repairs, such as pruning or cabling, if the injured tree will not die as a result of such injuries. In cases where the tree has been damaged beyond repair and cannot remain in the public right-of-way because it is determined by the city forester to be a "dangerous tree" as defined in section 27-2 of this Code, the entity or person responsible for the damage shall also pay the cost the city incurs to remove and replace the tree.
In addition to any fines that may be assessed for violation of this section, the person or entity found liable shall pay to the city a sum equal to the value or partial value of the tree lost as a result of the violation.
The value or partial value of the tree lost shall be as determined by the city forester in accordance with the reasonable cost of replacement thereof as set forth in a current publication of the International Society of Arboriculture, if available, otherwise based on the average of two written price quotes procured by the city forester from at least two different area nurseries.
(Ord. No. 2011-095-O, 8-15-2011; Ord. No. 2024-150-O, 8-5-2024)
Secs. 27-17—27-44. - Reserved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18).
Full Breakdown
Rockford Code Chapter 27 governs trees and shrubs growing in the public right-of-way (parkways, street terraces) and on other city-owned property; Sec. 27-1 states the chapter applies to trees on public right-of-way or premises owned or controlled by the city. The city forester, an officer of the public works department, directs and controls planting, care, and removal of these public trees (Sec. 27-4). No one may cut down, destroy, damage, remove, or move a public tree without the forester's prior authorization, and each tree is a separate offense if that authorization is missing (Sec. 27-16). Dead, diseased, or dangerous public trees are removed at the forester's direction, with costs billed to the responsible party.
Violations & Fines
$50.00 to $750.00 per day; each tree cut down, destroyed, damaged, removed, or moved without prior forester authorization is a separate offense (Sec. 27-16). Property owners also bear removal and administrative costs for nuisance or negligently damaged public trees (Sec. 27-15).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own private property in Rockford?
What's the penalty for removing a Rockford parkway tree without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockford
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