Sioux Falls, SD Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Authority: Sioux Falls, SD Code § 94.038 (Planting in Public Rights-of-Way) within Chapter 94 (Forestry). The Street Tree Planting Permit is administered by the Parks & Recreation Forestry Division and is free to the property owner; the city additionally offers a $100 voucher per approved tree through the CommuniTree / Street Tree Voucher Program. Key § 94.038 requirements: (a) a permit is mandatory before planting any tree in the ROW; (b) only species on the City Forester's Approved Street Tree List may be planted (typical approved species include hackberry, bur oak, honeylocust, Kentucky coffeetree, northern catalpa, and DED-resistant elm cultivars); (c) the parking strip between curb and sidewalk must be at least 5 feet wide — trees may not be planted in narrower strips; (d) plantings must respect overhead-utility clearance, vision-clearance triangles at intersections, and underground utility setbacks (call 811 before digging). Maintenance responsibility: although boulevard trees are technically public trees, the property owner abutting the parkway is responsible for routine watering, pruning of low branches (clear to 8 feet over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets), and reporting hazards. The city handles structural pruning, removal of nuisance/dead trees (§ 94.015), and EAB management. Commercial tree work over 30 feet requires a Sioux Falls Arborist License (annual list published by Forestry). South Dakota statutory framework: SDCL § 9-29-1 (municipal police power) and SDCL Chapter 9-38 (sidewalks, streets) underpin the ROW management authority; SD has no preemption of municipal ROW tree regulation.