Boise's Community Forestry Unit, operating under Title 8 Chapter 4, prioritizes tree planting in lower-canopy neighborhoods such as the Bench to close inequities in shade, heat exposure, and air quality.
Boise has been a Tree City USA for over four decades and operates a dedicated Community Forestry Unit under City Code Title 8 Β§08-04. The unit maintains the public right-of-way tree inventory, requires permits for planting, pruning, or removing parkway trees, and coordinates with utility and ACHD work. A 2022 canopy assessment documented gaps between the North End and the Bench, prompting an equity-focused planting plan that targets schools, parks, and bus stops in lower-canopy census tracts. Replacement trees lean toward drought-tolerant native and adapted species suited to climate-shifted conditions.
Removing or improperly pruning a parkway tree without a Forestry permit is a misdemeanor under Title 8 Β§08-04, with restitution based on the appraised tree value.
See how Boise's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.