Tree Protection in Illinois (2026)

Waukegan defines a heritage tree as any tree 18 inches or larger in diameter at breast height and lists heritage trees…

Sec. 26-128 creates a 'legacy tree' list for individually significant trees and folds any legacy tree into the code's…

Kendall County requires new subdivisions in the unincorporated county to protect at least seventy (70) percent of…

Lake County requires developers in unincorporated areas to protect at least 70% of significant trees, defined as…

Trees 18 inches or more in diameter within a designated historic district or on a landmark property can't be cut down…

Chicago's code formally defines a "heritage tree" by age, size, or historical value and directs the Urban Forestry…

Elgin's right-of-way vegetation rules let the city require utilities to protect 'specimen trees or trees of special…

Evanston protects trees once they hit a minimum trunk diameter tied to their species-quality group: any public tree at…

On County-controlled roads outside Chicago, the Highway Department can force utility crews to use higher poles…

Kendall County protects specific native tree species by name during subdivision development in the unincorporated…

Development on unincorporated Lake County land subject to site plan review must protect at least 70% of "significant…

McHenry County protects desirable native trees on land proposed for subdivision under conservation design. Any…

Waukegan requires utilities working in the public right-of-way to take special protective measures around specimen…

When utilities install or maintain lines in Oak Lawn's public right-of-way, the Village can require extra protection…

Cicero requires the commissioner of forestry's approval before anyone plants, trims or removes a tree or shrub on…

Planting a tree in an Aurora public thoroughfare or parkway requires a permit from the City Arborist, who sets the…

Chicago requires one parkway tree per 25 feet of frontage, minimum 2.5-inch caliper, planted to city forestry specs.

New development in unincorporated Cook County must plant parkway trees between the street and property line, spaced at…

DuPage County subdivision rules require subdividers to plant shade trees within five feet of the street right-of-way…

Planting a tree or any plant material in an Elgin public right-of-way, including the parkway strip between sidewalk and…

Evanston caps what residents can plant in the street parkway: shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and annuals can't…

Planting a tree or shrub in the public right-of-way or parkway in Joliet takes written approval and a city-issued…

In unincorporated Kendall County's RPD-1 and RPD-2 residential planned developments, the County Code sets a numeric…

Subdivisions built in unincorporated Lake County must plant two street trees per 100 feet of frontage, at least 3…

Naperville, Illinois requires prior written City approval before planting any tree or shrub in the parkway, plus…

Oak Lawn bans planting ten invasive or hazardous tree species anywhere in the village, including parkways, and runs a…

The Village of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, requires a permit before any construction activity that could affect a…

Peoria's Shade Tree Ordinance sets exact spacing and clearance standards for any tree planted in the parkway, the strip…

When a Schaumburg property owner gets approval to remove a parkway tree, Village Code § 158.22 puts the full cost of…

Village of Skokie Code sets exact planting rules for every tree placed in a public parkway. Section 90-42 requires the…

Springfield bans specific tree species, including elms, cottonwood, mulberry, weeping willow, and fruit trees, from…

Planting a tree or shrub in a Tinley Park street, parkway or other public place requires a permit from the Village…

New Waukegan developments must plant one large shade tree per 40 linear feet of street frontage in unpaved parkways…

New subdivisions in unincorporated Will County must plant one parkway or front yard tree per 40 feet of street…

Champaign plants shade trees in the parkway through its Cooperative Share-the-Cost Tree Planting Program under Sec…