Orem, UT Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Species approval
- Urban Forester approves species first
- Permit required
- Yes, for any planter-strip tree
- Permit fee
- Waived for citizen planting
- Standard
- Follow Urban Forestry Program/Street Tree Master Plan
- Maintenance duty
- Adjacent owner protects tree from damage
- Nuisance abatement
- 15-day notice, 5-day appeal window
- Governing article
- Orem City Code Article 13-3, Tree Stewardship
Summary
Orem lets adjacent property owners plant new trees in the parkway strip between the sidewalk and the street, but only under Orem City Code 13-3-4: the species must be approved by the Urban Forester first, and planting must follow the Urban Forestry Program and Street Tree Master Plan. A tree permit is still required, though the City waives the permit fee for citizens doing this planting themselves.
13-3-4. Citizen Responsibilities. Citizens shall have the following responsibilities for the protection of trees in Planter Strips abutting their real property: ... Purchasing and planting trees in Planter Strips. The species must be approved by the Urban Forester, and they then must be planted as outlined in the Urban Forestry Program and Street Tree Master Plan. A tree permit will be required, but the permit fee will be waived.
Full Breakdown
Planter strips, also called parkways, are the City-owned strip of land between the curb and the sidewalk, and Article 13-3 treats any tree planted there as a 'City Tree' once it is in place. Before buying a tree for that strip, a resident must get species approval from the Urban Forester, since Section 13-3-3 makes it unlawful to plant, prune, remove, cut, disturb or top any City Tree without first obtaining a tree permit from the Urban Forester. A tree permit ordinarily carries a fee set by City Council resolution, but the Citizen Responsibilities section waives that fee specifically for a citizen purchasing and planting an approved tree in a planter strip, one of the enumerated 'good cause' waiver categories under 13-3-3.
Once planted, the same section makes the adjacent property owner responsible for protecting the new City Tree from mower and trimmer damage, from wounds caused by nails, wires, ropes or signs attached to it, and for maintaining the surrounding lawn, except in strips the City has designated as established parkways that the City itself maintains. If the species or planting method does not match the Urban Forestry Program and Street Tree Master Plan, the City can treat it as a violation of the permit requirement, and if a planted tree later becomes hazardous or a nuisance, Section 13-3-6 puts the duty to correct it on the owner, occupant or agent controlling the property, with the Urban Forester able to order abatement within 15 calendar days of written notice.
Violations & Fines
Planting a tree in a parkway strip without Urban Forester species approval and a tree permit violates Section 13-3-3 even though the permit fee itself is waived under 13-3-4; the City can require replacement or recovery of the tree's monetary value as a condition of correcting an unapproved planting. If an unapproved or poorly maintained parkway tree becomes a Nuisance Tree, the Urban Forester can serve 15-day written notice to abate under 13-3-6, with a 5-day window to appeal to the Urban Forester and a further appeal to the Administrative Law Judge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant any tree I want in the parkway strip in front of my Orem home?
Do I have to pay a permit fee to plant a parkway tree in Orem?
Who takes care of a tree once I plant it in the parkway?
What happens if my parkway tree becomes hazardous?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orem
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle parkway planting.