Boise, ID Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- None: free permit
- Issuing authority
- City Forester
- Approval needed for
- Species, spacing, placement, tree well size
- Unpermitted planting
- Forester may remove, bill owner
- Appeal path
- Board of Parks and Recreation Commission
Summary
Planting a tree in the parkway strip between sidewalk and curb requires a free City Forester permit specifying species and location.
No person may perform any of the following acts without first obtaining from the City Forester a permit for which no fee shall be charged... 1. Plant trees on public rights-of-way or in any public places... Each application for a planting permit shall designate the species and variety of public tree proposed. The City Forester shall designate the location of the planting... Approval of tree species, spacing, placement and minimum tree well sizes shall be obtained from the City Forester prior to issuance of a permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-31: Code current through: Ord. 20-26, passed 6-9-2026).
Full Breakdown
Boise's parkway (the right-of-way strip between the curb and the property line) is public property under the jurisdiction of the City Forester. Before planting any tree there, a resident must contact the City Forester, who inspects the site and issues a no-fee permit designating the approved species, variety, spacing, placement, and minimum tree well size. Trees planted without a permit, or in conflict with these terms, can be removed by the City Forester, with removal costs billed to the person who planted it. The same permit chain covers pruning, removal, or any digging within a public tree's critical root zone.
Violations & Fines
Planting without a permit lets the City Forester remove the tree and bill the planter for removal costs; violating chapter provisions or a Forester order is a misdemeanor under BCC 1-4-1, plus possible civil penalties and restitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permission to plant a tree in the parkway strip in front of my Boise home?
What happens if I plant a parkway tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boise
Compare Boise to another location·View the Idaho tree protection overview
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