Tinley Park, IL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Tinley Park, 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
- Covers
- Trees/shrubs in public streets, parkways, public places only
- Not covered
- Trees on private property
- Approval authority
- Director of Public Works
- Planting setbacks
- 3 ft from sidewalk, 10 ft from pavement, 25 ft from intersections
- Species control
- Must be on DPW's approved tree list
- Penalty
- $50 to $750 per day, § 10.99
Summary
Cutting down or removing any tree or shrub growing in a Tinley Park street, parkway, or other public place requires a permit approved by the Director of Public Works. Village Code § 100.02 covers parkway and street trees only; it does not reach trees on private property.
It shall be unlawful to remove or cut down any tree or shrub in any such public place without having secured a permit therefor. Applications for such permits shall be made to the Director of Public Works and shall be approved by the Director of Public Works before issuance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-40: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance 2026-O-007, passed 2-17-2026, Resolution 2018-R-077, passed 10-2-18, and State legislation current through 2010 Pamphlet No. 7).
Full Breakdown
02 makes it unlawful to remove or cut down any tree or shrub in a public street, parkway, or other public place without first securing a permit, and the application must be approved by the Director of Public Works before issuance. 01 limits new plantings to species on the Department of Public Works' approved tree list, and requires any tree or shrub to be set back at least three feet from the outer sidewalk line, at least ten feet from the edge of street pavement, and at least 25 feet from any intersecting street or alley.
Applications for planting go through the Village Clerk to the Public Works Committee, while removal applications go straight to the Director of Public Works for approval, giving the village direct control over the parkway tree canopy it maintains along every street. 03 backs up the removal permit by separately making it unlawful to injure, cut, or deface any tree or shrub growing in these public places, and requires anyone maintaining gas pipes in the village, or excavating near a public tree, to avoid damaging its roots.
02, which by its own terms is limited to trees in a public street, parkway, or other public place. Violations of the removal permit requirement carry the Village's general penalty.
Violations & Fines
Removing or cutting down a parkway or street tree without the Director of Public Works' approval, or injuring, cutting, or defacing a public tree or shrub under § 100.03, is punishable under the general penalty at § 10.99: a fine of $50 to $750, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my own yard in Tinley Park?
Who approves removal of a parkway tree?
Can I plant any tree species in the parkway in front of my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tinley Park
Compare Tinley Park to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle tree removal & heritage trees.