South Bend, IN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Sec. 19-11 makes it unlawful for any person to remove, transfer, destroy, spray or do surgery work upon any tree or shrub located in an area over which the Board of Park Commissioners has jurisdiction, without permission from the Board or its designee. That jurisdiction, defined in Sec. 19-9, covers the sodding, seeding, planting, maintaining and removal of trees and shrubs upon or along public streets, tree and lawn areas, parks and other public places, and gives the Board exclusive authority to regulate and prescribe the terms and conditions for removal permits.

The rule applies specifically to City-controlled tree and lawn areas and street trees; Sec. 19-2 exempts trees and shrubs planted entirely within the boundary lines of a private lot from this article's removal, planting and maintenance rules. Property owners are not just barred from removing City trees without permission, they can also be ordered to remove hazardous ones: under Sec. 19-19, an owner must remove or trim any tree on their property or the adjoining tree lawn that is dead, diseased, unsightly, injurious to public health and safety, or that overhangs the street enough to obstruct pedestrians or vehicles, after the Board serves at least ten days' written notice.

If an owner does not comply, the Board can perform the work itself under Sec. 19-20 and assess the cost as a lien against the property, enforceable by foreclosure the same way street and sidewalk improvement assessments are collected in first-class cities.