Salt Lake City, UT Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 21A.48.090
- Enforcing officials
- City forester, zoning administrator
- Replacement ratio
- 2 caliper inches per inch removed
- Protection fencing
- 1 ft past drip line, before grading
- Removal alternative
- Cash-in-lieu payment to tree fund
Summary
Salt Lake City requires developers to preserve city forester-designated "specimen" trees on private land, fence off their root zones during construction, and replace or pay into the tree fund for any that must be removed.
The city forester shall maintain a list of trees or tree types that are deemed to be specimen trees subject to Subsection E, "Standards", of this section. ... Specimen trees, required to be preserved, shall not be cut, removed, pushed over, killed, or otherwise damaged.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 21A.48.090, the city forester maintains an official list of specimen trees, the city's version of landmark/heritage trees. New development must preserve them unless the forester finds preservation impracticable; single-family construction on an existing lot, dead or hazardous trees, and airport or utility conflicts are exempt. Protected trees get chainlink fencing at least 1 foot past the drip line before any grading begins, and cutting, killing, or damaging them outright is prohibited. Where removal is unavoidable, the applicant must replant 2 caliper inches of new trees for every inch of trunk diameter (dbh) removed or pay cash in lieu into the city's tree fund.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under the city's zoning and development enforcement code; the zoning administrator and city forester can require replanting, cash-in-lieu tree fund payments, and can pursue civil fines through the fines hearing officer for unauthorized removal or damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "specimen tree" in Salt Lake City?
Can I remove a specimen tree for a new home?
What happens if a protected tree comes down?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah tree protection overview
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Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle heritage & protected trees.