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Overland Park, KS Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Base ratio
1 tree per 40 feet of frontage
Required spacing
15 to 40 feet apart
R-4/RP-4 add-on
1 additional tree per dwelling unit
Commercial add-on
1 tree per 3,000 sq ft open space
Species source
Approved Street Tree List, § 7.16.180

Summary

New residential development in Overland Park must plant one street tree per 40 feet of frontage within the right-of-way, spaced 15 to 40 feet apart, with extra trees required per dwelling unit in higher-density zoning districts under the city's landscaping code.

In District R-1 and RP-1, one tree per 40 feet of public or private street frontage, or portion thereof, shall be required within the right-of-way of all streets, accessways, and roadways, excluding thoroughfares, alley, and service drives. Street trees shall be spaced a minimum of fifteen (15) feet and a maximum of forty (40) feet for the full length of all streets and roadways. Where not allowed within a thoroughfare right-of-way, street trees shall be planted on the private lots along the thoroughfare right-of-way.

Full Breakdown

050 sets minimum street tree planting requirements by zoning district as part of every development's required landscaping plan. In Districts R-1 and RP-1, one tree per 40 feet of public or private street frontage (or portion thereof) is required within the right-of-way of streets, accessways and roadways, excluding thoroughfares, alleys and service drives, with street trees spaced a minimum of 15 feet and a maximum of 40 feet apart along the full street length; where planting is not allowed within a thoroughfare right-of-way, the street trees instead go on the private lots along that frontage.

070. Commercial districts C-O/CP-O and C-1 through C-3/BP add a tree for every 3,000 square feet of landscaped open space on top of the frontage ratio, while District MXD instead requires one tree per 40 feet within the landscaped setback abutting the street, per the Mixed Use Design Standards. 040.

Violations & Fines

Failure to install the required street trees shown on an approved landscaping plan blocks issuance of a certificate of occupancy and can be enforced as a zoning code violation subject to the general penalty provisions of the Overland Park Municipal Code; the City's Planning Division reviews compliance before final inspection sign-off, and non-conforming installations must be corrected or replanted to the approved species and ratio before the project is closed out.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many street trees does a new house need in Overland Park?
Section 18.450.050.A requires one street tree per 40 feet of public or private street frontage in R-1 and RP-1 districts, planted within the right-of-way and spaced a minimum of 15 feet and maximum of 40 feet apart along the full frontage.
Do multifamily developments need more street trees than single-family?
Yes. Districts like R-4/RP-4 require the same 40-foot frontage ratio plus one additional tree for every dwelling unit, and those extra trees can double as required parking-lot trees under Section 18.450.070.
What if the right-of-way won't allow planting along a thoroughfare?
Section 18.450.050 states that where street trees are not allowed within a thoroughfare right-of-way, they must instead be planted on the private lots along that thoroughfare frontage, keeping the same 40-foot ratio and spacing rule.

Sources & Official References

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