Chicago requires replacement of parkway trees damaged or removed during construction with a minimum 4-inch caliper B&B tree under MCC 10-32. The city also plants replacement trees for dead or dying parkway trees through the Bureau of Forestry.
Under MCC 10-32, any parkway tree greater than 4 inches DBH that is permanently damaged during construction and was not originally marked for removal must be replaced with a new tree of at least 4-inch caliper B&B, as directed by the Bureau of Forestry. If comparable replacement trees are unavailable or the timing is unsuitable for planting, the contractor is charged the appraised value per MCC 10-32-200. The city's Bureau of Forestry manages a tree planting program that replaces dead and removed parkway trees. Residents can request new parkway tree plantings through 311. The Landscape Ordinance (Zoning 17-11) may require tree plantings as part of new development landscaping plans, including minimum caliper requirements of 2.5 inches (4 inches in the Central Area).
Failure to replace damaged construction trees: charged full appraised value plus potential fines of $500 to $2,500 per tree.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how other cities in Cook County handle tree replacement requirements.
See how Chicago's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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