Broomfield, CO Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

Chapter 17-71 of the Broomfield Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2240 in December 2024, defines which trees count as significant trees subject to preservation during land development and redevelopment under B.M.C. 17-71-030(L). A private protected tree is any tree with a diameter at breast height of six inches or more within twenty feet of a street right-of-way, eight inches or more within ten feet of any other property line, or twelve inches or more anywhere else on the lot. A public protected tree on city-owned land, rights-of-way, parks, open space or utility easements is protected at the same six, eight and twelve inch DBH tiers, and the city and county forester also designates exceptional specimen trees of unique value, including any Colorado State, U.S. or World Champion tree.

The chapter applies to new construction, redevelopment, expansions of gross floor area by 65 percent or more, parking lot expansions over 50 percent, and public land dedications under the 2024 OSPRT Plan under B.M.C. 17-71-020, though accessory dwelling unit construction is exempt. Before any site disturbance, an applicant must submit a tree preservation plan to the city and county landscape architect and city and county forester identifying every tree four inches DBH or larger within fifty feet of the site, its condition rating from 1 Excellent to 6 Dead under B.M.C.

17-71-040(B), and mitigation actions under B.M.C. 17-71-060, which lets an owner replace lost tree inches on-site, relocate trees to public land, or pay into the tree preservation account when on-site mitigation is infeasible.