Lake County, IL Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Lake County municipalities apply caliper-inch replacement rather than tree-count ratios. Lake Forest Code Ch. 97 mandates replacement equal to the DBH of the removed tree using 2.5-3 inch caliper nursery stock; heritage tree removals require 3:1 replacement. Highland Park Tree Preservation Ordinance requires 2:1 caliper-inch replacement for protected tree removals. Libertyville Title 9 requires on-site replacement or payment to the Libertyville Tree Fund at published per-inch rates. Waukegan and Gurnee apply replacement standards for development projects through landscape plans. Approved species lists emphasize Midwest natives: bur oak, white oak, swamp white oak, shagbark hickory, hackberry, sugar maple, and disease-resistant elm cultivars. Ash species are prohibited due to Emerald Ash Borer. Trees planted under replacement orders must be maintained for 2 years with warranty replacement if they fail. Fee-in-lieu options support municipal parkway planting programs. Projects triggering WDO review must also meet native landscape preservation thresholds.