Municipal Ordinances' Relation to Trees

Abstract

This panel will discuss various ordinances enacted for the purpose of maintaining various arboriculture practices in a municipality. Panel members will discuss ordinances to control screening and landscaping of parking lots and private developments, removal of dead trees on private property, licensing of arborists, utility permits, eliminating visibilty problems at intersections, control of pruning and removal on public property, insect and disease control within a municipality, and tree preservation. Each panel member has selected a segment of the subject matter to discuss. The panel moderator will discuss the Lake Forest, Illinois, tree preservation ordinance. This ordinance was enacted in August of 1980 as a result of concern over the number of trees that are removed, damaged, or severely affected by the construction of home sites. Included in the ordinance is the landscaping of subdivisions which require special use permits, a spacing requirement for all trees planted on public property, and maintenance and replacement guarantees. A very unique part of the ordinance is the requirement for a building envelope to ensure the minimizing of damage to trees on the lot at the time of house construction.