St. Paul approves tree rules for future city-sponsored projects

Saint Paul has adopted new rules requiring earlier and more formal tree protection in future city-sponsored construction projects. Ordinance 25-4 applies to covered projects let after October 31, 2026, including work involving city roads, sidewalks, bikeways and trails.

The Saint Paul City Council approved the ordinance on July 15, and the mayor’s office signed it on July 17, according to the city’s legislative record. The measure does not ban tree removal or give trees veto power over infrastructure work. Instead, it moves tree review earlier in the design process and establishes requirements for preservation, protection, removal and restoration.

What covered projects must do

Generally, covered projects will need a Public Works land survey and a tree survey completed by a certified arborist before design. Project plans must consider design options that preserve mature or otherwise valuable trees.

Plans also must include a tree table identifying which trees will be preserved, removed or replaced, along with the reasons for removal. A tree-preservation plan approved by the city’s Forestry Unit must identify tree locations, species, size, critical root zones and protection measures.

During construction, contractors will have to follow protection procedures involving fencing, signage, root protection, equipment staging and other safeguards. Certified arborists will monitor compliance with those requirements.

Removal, damage and replacement

The ordinance requires damage to public trees to be reported. Contractors also must provide prior written notice to the Forestry Unit before severing public-tree roots that are at least 2 inches in diameter.

When preservation is not feasible, the ordinance requires planting or restoration. The city says projects should maximize planting space and strive for one-for-one replacement where possible. The legislation does not guarantee that every removed tree will be replaced at the same location. When planting at the project site is not possible, nearby public planting may be used.

For residents watching future street and sidewalk projects, that means tree removal may still occur when preservation is not feasible. The project planning materials must document affected trees, the reasons for removal and how planting or restoration will be handled.

Projects outside the full process

Not every construction project within Saint Paul will follow the ordinance’s full requirements. Projects controlled by MnDOT, Ramsey County or the Metropolitan Council are excluded, as are emergency work and certain projects involving infrastructure easements, flood mitigation and water-quality improvements.

The ordinance also treats some property-by-property replacement work and private projects affecting the public right of way differently. Those projects may need to follow tree-protection provisions without completing the full survey and construction-plan process. Residents should identify which agency controls a project before assuming the new city process applies.

What happens next

The ordinance followed a 14-month community and technical process involving city staff, including Public Works and Forestry personnel. Supporters described the policy as a way to address concerns about construction-related tree loss while preserving the city’s ability to complete needed infrastructure and accessibility work.

The next major test will be implementation. The ordinance calls for Standard Operating Procedures from Public Works and Parks and Recreation. Those procedures, along with the first projects let after October 31, 2026, will show how the city applies the new requirements in practice.

Sources

• Saint Paul Ordinance 25-4 final legislation
• Saint Paul City Council ordinance announcement
• Axios Twin Cities tree-ordinance report