Hammond, IN Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Ordinary tree root zone
- 1 ft radius per inch of DBH, 8 ft minimum
- Specimen tree root zone
- 1.5 ft radius per inch of DBH
- Specimen designation authority
- Hammond Park Department
- Construction barrier minimum
- 4 ft high, 8 ft square fence
- Maximum fine
- $500 per day, per violation
Summary
In the City of Hammond, Indiana, the Park Department can designate any tree or stand of trees a SPECIMEN TREE OR STAND under Hammond Code of Ordinances § 105.01 based on species, size, age, form or historical significance. A specimen tree gets a wider protected root zone than an ordinary public tree, and construction crews working near it must fence and mulch that zone under § 105.20.
CRITICAL ROOT ZONE. A circular region measured outward from the tree trunk representing the essential area of the roots that must be maintained or protected for the tree’s survival. Critical root zone is 1 foot in radial distance for every inch of tree DBH; with a minimum distance of 8 feet. For specimen trees, the formula changes to 1.5 feet for every inch of tree DBH. ... SPECIMEN TREE OR STAND. Any tree, or grouping of trees, that has been determined by the Park Department to be of high value because of its species, size, age, form, historical significance or professional criteria. ... All trees on any street or other publicly owned property near any excavation or construction of any building, structure, or street work shall be guarded whenever possible with a fence, frame or box not less than 4 feet high and 8 feet square and all building material, dirt or other debris shall be kept outside the barrier.
Full Breakdown
01 defines the CRITICAL ROOT ZONE around any public tree as 1 foot of radial protection for every inch of trunk diameter at breast height (DBH), with an 8-foot minimum. 5 feet of protected radius per inch of DBH, meaning a 20-inch specimen tree carries a 30-foot protected root radius versus 20 feet for an ordinary public tree. 20 puts teeth into that zone during nearby work: any excavation or construction near a public tree must be guarded, whenever possible, with a fence, frame or box at least 4 feet high and 8 feet square, with building material, dirt and debris kept outside the barrier.
Where heavy equipment repeatedly crosses a tree's critical root zone, especially in wet conditions, a 10-inch temporary layer of shredded bark or wood chips must be placed and maintained over the roots, and the Park Department can require an even larger barrier when it issues the tree care permit. Excavating ditches, tunnels or trenches, or laying a driveway, within 10 feet of a public tree requires both a street cut permit and a tree care permit from the Park Department, and underground utility work that threatens roots is subject to protection measures the Department designates. 02.
Violations & Fines
Violating the tree chapter carries a fine of up to $500 per violation under § 105.99, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. The city can also enter the property under I.C. 36-1-6-2 to bring it back into compliance, including replanting a damaged or improperly removed tree, though everyone with a substantial interest in the property first gets a reasonable chance to fix it themselves. If the city does the work, the cost becomes a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree a protected "specimen tree" in Hammond?
How much extra protection does a specimen tree get near construction?
Do I need a permit to dig near a public tree in Hammond?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hammond
Compare Hammond to another location·View the Indiana tree protection overview
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