McHenry County, IL Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Desirable-species trigger
- 4 inches DBH or larger
- Other-tree trigger
- 8 inches DBH or larger
- Replacement basis
- Inch-for-inch, Table 16.76-3
- Neighbor buffer
- Protects trees within 10 ft of line
- Mass-removal penalty
- 1-year subdivision review freeze
- Enforcement
- Zoning Enforcement Officer, 30-day cure
Summary
McHenry County protects desirable native trees on land proposed for subdivision under conservation design. Any desirable native species four inches DBH or larger, and any other tree eight inches DBH or larger except prohibited species, must be surveyed and preserved wherever practical before the County approves a plat.
To the greatest extent possible, significant trees and tree stands that meet the tree inventory and protection standards should be incorporated into protected open space. ... The survey shall consist of a scaled drawing that shows the location of all desirable native tree species listed in this section having a diameter at breast height (DBH) of four (4) or more inches. The inventory shall also include all other existing trees with a DBH of eight (8) or more inches, excluding prohibited tree species listed in this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-5: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. A25-0037, passed 8-19-2025 | State legislation current through ALS 2025 Pamphlet No. 1).
Full Breakdown
76 (Subdivision Standards), a preliminary plat for any qualifying conservation-design subdivision must include a tree survey and tree preservation proposal prepared by a qualified arborist or forester before the Planning and Development Committee can act. 76-5. 030 when a subdivision of more than five lots sits within 100 feet of a McHenry County Natural Area Inventory site or a high-quality wetland, or when woodlands, wetlands, floodplains, aquifer recharge areas and similar resources cover 20 percent or more of the site plus its 200-foot buffer, tying tree protection directly to the County's aquifer-recharge and groundwater program.
Once trees are flagged, the County requires a protective fence around the critical root zone with signage, bars mass cutting or clear-cutting of woodland areas outright, requires boring rather than trenching for utilities near roots, and extends protection to any neighboring desirable tree within ten feet of the property line. Where mass removal or clear-cutting of desirable native trees has already occurred, the Staff Plat Review Committee will not accept or review a subdivision application for one full year. 5-inch trees for anything 26 inches or larger, or the County may accept a fee in lieu of planting.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Enforcement Officer administers this section. Under Section 16.76.090(J), if an open-space management entity violates the tree-protection terms, the Officer issues written notice demanding corrective action and restoration of the damaged property; failing to cure within 30 days triggers enforcement action under the Ordinance's general provisions. Where immediate damage is threatened, the County may enter dedicated open space and act without prior notice. Separately, mass or clear-cut removal of desirable trees before subdivision approval blocks County review of that plat for one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to my existing home in unincorporated McHenry County?
Which trees count as protected?
What happens if a developer clear-cuts before applying?
Can removed trees just be replaced with any tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in McHenry County
Compare McHenry County to another location·View the Illinois tree protection overview
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