All Public Right-of-Way, Park, Parkway or public space trees are protected by ordinance. Whenever trees are within or adjacent to a work zone, tree protection is required for the entire duration of the project, all the way through final completion. Find more information in the Details and Specifications tab below.
The Office of the City Forester should be notified three days prior to commencement of work, please call or email at (720) 913-0651, forestry@denvergov.org.
No access, storage of materials, debris and/or equipment, or activity, including but not limited to, excavation, grading or grade changes, installation of underground utilities, and/or installation of site improvements, is permitted within tree protection zones (TPZ) without prior authorization and instruction from the Office of the City Forester. Any disruption of existing irrigation, the permittee must provide supplemental watering of any trees and landscape impacted as instructed by the Office of the City Forester and/or Parks Representative until the irrigation system is repaired. Removal or alteration of tree protection zones, or damage to public trees, shall result in issuance of penalties which may include compensation of lost value and /or cost of tree removal and replacement.
For plan review submittals, existing trees, notation of proposed retention or removal, tree protection zones, as well as all proposed work within the TPZ or proposed tree planting, must be shown on plans. Tree removals and planting must be approved and issued the required permit by the Office of the City Forester prior to work commencing. Applicants preparing plans should add the Tree Protection and/or Tree Planting Details to their plans prior to submittal for review. For a list of all plan review requirements, please see the landscape planning checklist in the Plan review process section.