Naperville, IL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Tree-to-tree spacing
- 30 feet minimum
- Sidewalk setback
- 4 feet minimum
- Intersection rule
- No trees within intersection
- Approval needed
- Written City permit first
Summary
Naperville, Illinois requires prior written City approval before planting any tree or shrub in the parkway, plus 30-foot tree spacing and a 4-foot sidewalk setback, per Code § 9-3-5.
It shall be unlawful to plant any tree or shrub in the public right-of-way, the parkway or on other publicly owned property, without prior written approval from the City. It shall be unlawful to plant any tree in any parkway less than thirty (30) feet from any other tree in the same parkway, nor at a distance of less than four (4) feet from the established sidewalk line of the street except by written permit from the Department. ...No tree shall hereafter be planted within the intersection of street lines.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 101).
Full Breakdown
Naperville's parkway planting standard, in this DuPage County city's Municipal Code § 9-3-5, bars planting any tree or shrub in the public right-of-way or parkway without prior written approval from the Department of Public Works. Trees need at least thirty feet between them in the same parkway and at least four feet from the sidewalk line unless the Department grants a written permit for tighter spacing. No tree can go in a street intersection, and shrubbery must clear thirty feet from the nearest intersecting street line.
Violations & Fines
Planting a tree or shrub in the parkway without approval, or too close to another tree, sidewalk, or intersection, is unlawful under this Section and enforceable as a Code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart must parkway trees be planted in Naperville?
Do I need permission before planting a tree in the parkway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Naperville
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