Loveland, CO Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

01 governs parkway and street tree planting. Street trees must go into the street right-of-way in locations the Director of Development Services approves, factoring in utilities, street lights, and sight-distance triangles, or within 10 feet of the right-of-way if planting inside it is impractical. 02. Street trees go in parkways or sidewalk cutouts and must be spaced on 35-foot centers, with variation allowed to avoid utilities, sight triangles, and curb cuts; the Director can approve clustered spacing for meandering sidewalks, corridor overlay zones, or PUDs with an informal street character.

The parkway landscape design must include at least three of six listed elements: water-wise shrubs and groundcovers, a low-growing seed or restoration blend, defined irrigation hydrozones, rock mulch, wood mulch, or hardscape features kept at least 18 inches from sidewalks and curb-side parking. Rock and wood mulch must sit on a weed barrier, and rock within 18 inches of a roadway must be 2 to 4 inch cobble. Parkways in the Wildland Urban Interface Overlay Zone must instead follow Appendix O of the adopted Fire Code, which bars wood mulch and certain plant species.

Trunk setbacks are 15 feet from driveways and alleys and 10 feet from buildings, utilities, and other structures except fences, and no tree that will exceed 25 feet at maturity may be planted under or within 10 feet of an overhead power line, other than street light or service lines. A root barrier is required along all concrete sidewalks, curbs, and driveways. 32, keeping it free of litter, debris, weeds, and obstructions and repairing damaged plantings, unless the City approves an alternative maintenance agreement. The current version reflects Ordinance 6819, effective March 17, 2026.