Waukesha, WI Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Sec. 06 puts species and spacing decisions in the hands of the City Forester before any planting work begins in a public area. No tree or shrub may be planted within 35 feet of a street corner, and City parkway trees must be spaced at least 35 feet apart, or as the City Forester otherwise determines based on the genus, species, and variety involved. The code lists approved parkway species, including Norway maple varieties, red maple, elm, sugar maple, hackberry, white ash, green ash, ginkgo, thornless honeylocust varieties, ironwood, red oak, and several linden varieties, plus any improved variety approved by the University of Wisconsin Horticulture Department.

It separately bans a list of varieties from the parkway entirely, including poplar, ailanthus, box elder, catalpa, mountain ash, birch, willows, conifers, silver maple, and any fruit- or nut-bearing tree. As with all right-of-way tree work under this section, a written permit from the City Forester is required before planting, and the size and manner of planting must be submitted for the Forester's approval beforehand as part of the City's forestry program.