Apple Valley, MN Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

Section 152.46(F) sets what an applicant owes when any significant tree is lost in violation of the city-approved tree preservation component: equal caliper inches replaced under division (B), and for a significant oak, replacement with an oak whose location the city determines. The applicant complies on 30 days' written notice from the city. Section 152.02 protects oaks harder at the root: land-disturbing activity, or soil compaction to 90% of proctor to a depth of six inches, counts as loss of a significant tree at 50% of the critical root zone, but for a significant oak the ceiling is no more than 30%. A significant tree is a healthy deciduous tree of eight inches or greater in diameter or a conifer of six inches or greater, at four and one-half feet above grade.

Section 152.46(B) applies the 15-10-5 diversity rule to replacements and does not permit box elder, poplar, willow or silver maple. Replacements must be healthy stock, deciduous trees two caliper inches or greater and conifers no less than six feet high.

Section 152.45 protects ash, elm and oak from pests. The City Council found that emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease and oak wilt threaten those trees, and it declared a public nuisance any living or standing elm infected with the Dutch elm disease fungus or harboring elm bark beetles, any red oak infected with the oak wilt fungus, any ash tree harboring emerald ash borer, and any dead ash material with the bark not removed or sprayed. The City Forester inspects premises annually or as often as practicable and can enter private premises at any reasonable time. Abatement means chipping diseased wood into pieces no larger than one inch, removing the bark from portions larger than two inches in diameter or covering them with at least four mil plastic sealed to the ground, or another accepted method with city approval. Transporting infected bark-bearing ash, elm or oak wood within the city is unlawful unless the Forester permits it. The city can bill abatement costs to the owner, and unpaid charges 30 days past the invoice due date go to a special assessment.