Iowa City, IA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Large tree ratio
- 1 per 40 linear feet of frontage
- Small tree ratio
- 1 per 30 linear feet of frontage
- Multi-frontage lots
- 1 tree per 60 linear feet
- Large tree setback from ROW
- within 14 feet, on private property
- Small tree setback from ROW
- within 8 feet, on private property
- Right-of-way planting strip minimum
- 9 feet wide unless forester approves
- ROW tree trunk clearance
- 4 feet to first branch at planting
Summary
Iowa City requires street trees along every lot's public right-of-way frontage: one large tree per 40 linear feet or one small tree per 30 linear feet, minimum one per lot. Trees go on private property near the right-of-way, not in it, unless site conditions force a right-of-way planting permit from the city forester.
14-5E-7: STREET TREE REQUIREMENTS: ... The requirements of this section provide for trees along streets to complement and soften the edges of development, to provide a tree canopy for pedestrians, and to define and unify the street edge. ... A. ... Street Trees Adjacent To Public Right Of Way: 1. On single frontage lots, one large tree is required for every forty (40) linear feet of frontage or one small tree for every thirty (30) linear feet of frontage, but not less than one tree per lot. 2. On lots with more than one frontage, one tree is required for every sixty (60) linear feet of frontage. 3. Required trees must be located as follows:
a. Trees must be planted on private property adjacent to the right of way ... "adjacent" means that large trees must be planted within fourteen feet (14') of the right of way line and small trees must be planted within eight feet (8') of the right of way line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-26: Code current through: Ord. 26-4985, passed May 19, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code section 14-5E-7 sets the planting ratio: single-frontage lots need one large tree for every 40 linear feet of frontage or one small tree for every 30 linear feet, with a floor of one tree per lot regardless of frontage length. Lots with more than one frontage need one tree for every 60 linear feet. The code defines "adjacent" precisely: large trees must sit within 14 feet of the right-of-way line and small trees within 8 feet, on private property, not in the right-of-way itself.
Existing trees already growing in or near the right-of-way count against the requirement if they qualify as preserved trees under section 14-5E-6. Only when a tree genuinely cannot be sited adjacent to the right-of-way because of a conflict with another provision of Title 14 may it move into the right-of-way itself, and even then it may be omitted entirely if it still cannot meet the right-of-way siting rules in subsection B. Right-of-way plantings carry their own conditions: a tree planting permit from the city forester is required, and trees cannot go in the curb-to-sidewalk planting strip if that strip is narrower than 9 feet unless the city forester approves an exception.
" Trees planted to satisfy this street-tree requirement can do double duty: section 14-5E-8 lets the same trees count toward the separate residential tree-coverage ratio (one tree per 550 square feet of building coverage for multi-family and group-living lots), so a developer is not forced to plant twice for overlapping standards.
Violations & Fines
The requirement is enforced through the site plan and building permit process administered by Neighborhood and Development Services, with the city forester reviewing any planting proposed within the public right-of-way. A tree planted in the right-of-way without the required tree planting permit, or one sited in a planting strip narrower than 9 feet without city forester approval, is out of compliance and can be required to be relocated or replaced. Because certificate-of-occupancy issuance for form-based zone development is tied to street tree installation under the related thoroughfare standards, missing or nonconforming street trees can delay occupancy approval until the planting requirement is satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant my required street tree in the parkway strip instead of my yard?
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the right-of-way in Iowa City?
How many street trees does my lot need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Iowa City
Compare Iowa City to another location·View the Iowa tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.