Sheboygan, WI Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Sec. 126-96 sits in Article II (Trees and Shrubs) of Chapter 126 and lists the covered acts: plant, remove, spray, brace, trim, prune, cut above or below ground, disturb, alter or do surgery. The permit comes from the city forester, who is the superintendent of parks by virtue of that office (Sec. 126-61) and works under the supervision of the department of engineering and public works. "Public areas" means all public rights-of-way, boulevards, parks and other lands owned, controlled or leased by the city, and the public right-of-way runs from the lot line to the curb and includes tree planting easements (Sec. 126-26).

The forester issues the permit when the proposed work is necessary and in accord with the purposes of the article, weighing public safety, health and welfare; the location of utilities, public sidewalks, driveways and streetlights; the general character of the area; the type of soil; and the physiological need of the genus, species and variety (Sec. 126-98). The permit is a standard form describing the work, the work must follow its terms strictly, and it expires six months after the date of issuance (Sec. 126-99). The only exemption is cultivating, fertilizing or watering public trees and shrubs (Sec. 126-97).

Sec. 126-129 sets the removal standard: the stump is grubbed out or ground out to at least nine inches below grade, surface roots beyond the main stump come out to five inches below grade, wood and debris leave the street before the end of each working day, and holes are filled to normal grade with topsoil as soon as practicable. When city crews or contractors remove a public tree at the forester's direction, the city pays from the park department budget, except that the abutting owner bears the cost of removing elms infested with Dutch elm disease; a permittee pays all expenses (Sec. 126-130).

Private trees are reached only in narrow cases. The article applies to trees and shrubs on private premises that threaten the life, health, safety or welfare of the public or of any public area (Sec. 126-27). For a private public-nuisance tree the forester gives written notice with an abatement period of not less than 30 days unless immediate action is necessary for public safety (Sec. 126-65). A person who plants, prunes, trims, sprays or removes trees for compensation needs a city license, and the tree removal license fee is $35.00 (Secs. 126-156 and 126-158).