Noblesville, IN Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Noblesville's replacement and replanting standards span three sections: • § 159.087 Street Trees — Trees shall be planted as a public improvement along any new subdivision street, with the cost of street trees and installation borne by the developer. The developer must follow the standards in the Street Tree Ordinance No. 8-3-09, the Approved Street Tree Species List, and the Arboricultural Specifications Manual of September 2014 (now superseded by the January 2024 edition) — or as amended. Spacing of trees shall be every 40 to 60 feet, with trees installed between the right-of-way and 15 feet outside of the right-of-way. All newly planted trees must be centered between the sidewalk and the curb unless otherwise specified by the City Forester before planting begins. Only species on the Approved Street Tree Species List may be used as street trees, with exceptions only by special written permission from the City Forester. • § 159.083 Preservation — All trees on the plat required to be retained shall be preserved, and all trees where required shall be welled and protected against change of grade. Trees with a minimum 6-inch diameter must be inventoried on the Tree Preservation Plan. • § 159.183 Design Standards — All landscaping required by the approved landscape plan shall be installed prior to issuance of the final certificate of occupancy unless approved by the Director of Planning and Development for weather-related reasons or unique circumstances. Where landscaping cannot be installed, a surety bond must be posted with the City covering 110% of the estimated installation cost including plant materials. The Director can call the bond and use the proceeds to install the required plantings. UDC does not impose a formula-based 'inch-for-inch' replacement for removed mature trees outside the development context, but trees designated for retention that are improperly removed must be replaced under UDC review.