Chicago, IL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum caliper
- 2.5 in (4 in Central Area)
- Spacing requirement
- 1 tree per 25 linear ft
- Tree ownership
- Becomes city property
- Soil pit depth
- 3 ft minimum
- Damage fine
- $10-$500 per offense
Summary
Chicago requires one parkway tree per 25 feet of frontage, minimum 2.5-inch caliper, planted to city forestry specs.
Each parkway tree shall have a minimum caliper of two and one-half inches or a minimum of four inches within the Central Area (an area bounded by North Avenue; Lake Michigan; Cermak Road; and Ashland Avenue) as measured at a point six inches above grade level and shall be balled and burlapped. Curbs and low railings shall be installed around parkway planters (i.e. a raised planting area constructed to contain soils, plants and trees) within the Central Area for the purpose of protecting landscaped areas from heavy pedestrian traffic consistent with recommendations in the Guide to the Chicago Landscape Ordinance. Where the deputy commissioner of the bureau of forestry determines it is not feasible to install parkway trees due to inadequate sidewalk widths or other limiting conditions, he/she may require the installation of sidewalk planters of a size and type described in the Guide to the Chicago Landscape Ordinance. The sidewalk planters installed in lieu of parkway trees shall be provided in an amount equal to no less than two square feet of planter area per linear foot of lot area as measured at the front lot line or the front and side lot lines on corner lots.
(2) The number of parkway trees installed shall not be less than one tree for each 25 lineal feet of property frontage, or any fraction thereof greater than one-half, along all parkways contiguous to such property. The type, size and location of such trees shall be subject to the rules and regulations
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
When a Chicago property owner is required to plant parkway trees under the zoning code, Municipal Code § 10-32-220 sets the technical standards. Each tree needs a minimum caliper of 2.5 inches (4 inches in the Central Area) measured 6 inches above grade, and must be balled and burlapped. At least one tree is required per 25 linear feet of property frontage along the parkway (any fraction over half counts as a full interval). Where sidewalks are too narrow for trees, the Bureau of Forestry deputy commissioner can require sidewalk planters instead, sized at 2 square feet per linear foot of lot frontage. Soil pits must have a 3-foot minimum depth and at least 24 square feet of surface area. Once planted, the tree becomes city property under § 10-32-160, and damaging it triggers replacement-cost liability under § 10-32-200.
Violations & Fines
Damaging a public parkway tree is a fine of $10-$500 per offense (or up to 60 days) under § 10-32-190/10-32-170, plus liability for the tree's replacement value under § 10-32-200.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides where parkway trees go in Chicago?
Do I own the tree once I plant it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle parkway planting.