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Reno, NV Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit required
Written urban forester permit required
Permit validity
Valid only 60 days
Banned species
Elm trees banned citywide
Restricted species
Poplar, cottonwood, willow barred from parkways
Penalty
Misdemeanor plus tree-value compensation

Summary

Reno requires a written permit from the urban forester before planting, pruning, cutting, spraying, or removing any tree in a street parkway or other public place.

No tree, plant, shrub or vine shall be planted or set out upon any street or public place in the city, and no tree, plant, shrub or vine located upon any street or public place shall be removed, pruned, cut, shaped, sprayed or chemically treated without a written permit first being obtained from the urban forester. When such permit is for the setting out of trees, plants, shrubs or vines, it may prescribe the number, kind and distance apart thereof. Once planted, all such plants and any subsequent biomass resulting from tree removal or pruning, including firewood, becomes property of the City of Reno.(b)When for the removal, trimming, pruning, cutting, spraying or chemically treating thereof, the permit shall prescribe the number of such plants to be affected thereby and the manner and the performance of the work. Such permit shall be operative only when exercised subject to such regulations as the urban forester may adopt for the purpose as hereinabove mentioned. The urban forester, as a condition for a removal permit, may require compensation to the city for the value of the removed tree or trees or replacement.(c)Approval to remove landmark trees shall be at the discretion of the city council upon recommendation of the Reno Urban Forestry Commission. Removal of any landmark trees for construction activities shall require payment to the city for the value of the landmark tree. (Code 1966, § 11.56.040; Ord. No. 4196, § 1, 3-10-92; Ord. No. 4917, § 1, 10-13-98)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

The Reno Municipal Code bars anyone from planting, removing, pruning, cutting, shaping, spraying, or chemically treating any tree, plant, shrub, or vine in a street parkway or other public place without a written permit from the city's urban forester. The permit sets the number, kind, and spacing of plants and is valid only 60 days. Elm trees are banned outright, and poplar, cottonwood, and willow may not be planted along any street or parkway. Violating the chapter is a misdemeanor, and offenders must also compensate the city for any tree damage or loss.

Violations & Fines

Planting or removing a street tree without a permit is a misdemeanor; violators must compensate the city for the tree's value and any damage caused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the parkway strip in front of my Reno home?
Yes. Reno Municipal Code § 8.32.040 requires a written permit from the city's urban forester before planting, pruning, cutting, or removing any tree, shrub, or vine in a street parkway or other public place.
Can I plant any tree species in the Reno parkway strip?
No. Elm is banned citywide, and poplar, cottonwood, aspen, and willow cannot be planted along any street or parkway except by special urban forester exception for riparian areas.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Reno

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