Roseville, MN Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Section 1011.04(e)(1) of the Roseville City Code defines heritage trees: all deciduous trees measuring equal to or greater than 27 inches at DBH and all coniferous trees measuring equal to or greater than 50 feet in height. A smaller tree can be a heritage tree if a degreed forester or certified arborist determines it is a rare or unusual species or of exceptional quality, or if a developer uses it as a focal point in a development project and the Community Development Department concurs. The classification matters when a project triggers section 1011.04: a plat or lot division that is not a minor lot subdivision, a new principal structure or an expansion of more than 50 percent, a demolition of more than 50 percent of a principal structure, or qualifying grading.

Deciduous trees of six inches DBH and coniferous trees of 12 feet or more must be inventoried on plans prepared and signed by a degreed forester or certified arborist. Heritage trees get the highest incentive multiplier, 2.0, against the net preservation or loss shown on the plan, compared with 1.0 for significant trees and 0.5 for common trees. In conjunction with platting, up to 15 percent of the total DBH-inches of all Heritage trees can be removed without replacement or restitution, subject to the multipliers.

When heritage trees are removed, replacement tree options are set by the city forester or other degreed forester or certified arborist assigned by the department. An unplanned loss of a heritage tree to development activity is replaced at a rate of 2.5.