Cleveland Tree Protection: Tree Ordinances Rules (2026)

Cleveland's tree-protection regime centers on the city's street-tree canopy, which is managed under CCO Part 5 Chapter 509 by the City Forester within the Department of Public Works, Division of Park Maintenance and Properties. No person may plant, prune, remove, injure, or disturb a tree in the public tree lawn (the strip between sidewalk and curb) or in any public park without a permit from the City Forester. The city maintains an approved species list, requires minimum planting distances from utility poles, fire hydrants, and driveways, and will not approve species known to heave sidewalks such as silver maple. Damaging a street tree through construction, vehicle strike, over-pruning, or application of herbicide can result in civil restitution calculated under the International Society of Arboriculture Trunk Formula Method; damages for mature specimen trees frequently exceed several thousand dollars. Homeowners must maintain sidewalk and street clearance (typically 8 feet over sidewalk, 13 feet 6 inches over roadway) on branches that originate from their own private trees. Trees on private property are generally not regulated for removal except when land is being subdivided or redeveloped, at which point tree-preservation and replacement standards under Part 12 site-plan review may apply. The City also operates a Tree Plan aimed at expanding canopy, and homeowners can request free street tree planting through the Forestry Division.