Fort Collins, CO Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

City Code Chapter 27, Division 2 governs parkway and street-tree work. ' The only carve-out: owners of properties adjoining alley rights-of-way may work on trees there without a permit, but they remain responsible for keeping the alley clear under Section 27-57. Section 27-32 lets any resident request that free permit from the City Forester's office for planting, treating, cutting, trimming, pruning or removing a right-of-way tree, or for removing a tree of 15 inches or greater diameter on commercial property; the request must state the applicant's and worker's names and addresses, the species involved, and the location, and the applicant must agree in writing to hold the City harmless.

Under Section 27-33, the City Forester inspects the proposed location before deciding: if the work would protect life or property or improve the urban forest, the Forester issues the permit naming who will do the work and any attached conditions. Separately, Section 27-18(c) bars planting any tree species along a right-of-way whose growth habit would obstruct or conflict with safe use of the street, and Section 27-17 lets the City Forester adopt binding written specifications (approved by the City Manager) for how planting and pruning in the right-of-way must be performed.