Lakeville, MN Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

Section 11-2-3 defines a heritage tree as a healthy hardwood deciduous tree measuring thirty inches or more in diameter, or a healthy coniferous tree at least forty feet tall. Because of their size and age, section 11-21-11.F.1 says heritage trees are unique to Lakeville and that all reasonable measures shall be taken to preserve them. Unlike common, coniferous, or hardwood deciduous trees, replaced at 12.5 percent, 25 percent, or 50 percent of the diameter inches removed above a project's allowed threshold, subsection G.1.d requires heritage trees to be replaced at one hundred percent of the diameter inches removed, with no threshold exemption.

The same full replacement standard applies if a heritage tree the approved tree preservation plan identified to be saved is instead removed or damaged during construction under subsection D.5, and reconstruction or expansion of an existing home on a lot larger than one acre must replace each heritage tree removed at a rate of two replacement trees per heritage tree lost, under subsection G.1.f. Developers can earn a heritage tree credit toward other replacement obligations by preserving a healthy heritage tree, but that credit cannot apply to trees within fifteen feet of a building pad, and it caps at half of the required replacement diameter inches.

Replacement trees must meet nursery stock standards, at least two and a half caliper inches for deciduous stock or six feet tall for conifers, and be planted on the same property from which the heritage tree was removed.