Tree Removal Permits in Appleton, WI

Verified against Appleton city sources · last checked 2026-08-06

Do you need a permit?

No permit required for most private trees

Appleton's tree permit is for public trees and shrubs, and the chapter says so twice - the article covers "public trees and shrubs" and the definition limits that to trees "on any park, playground or other property owned or controlled by the City or on any public street, alley, sidewalk or highway within the public right-of-way." No permit is required to remove a tree from your own yard. Two things do reach private property, though, and one of them surprises people: Appleton bans pruning or wounding ANY oak tree between April 1 and October 31 of any year, with no permit mechanism and no private-property exception written into the text.

Size threshold

None. Chapter 21 contains no diameter, DBH or caliper figure. Neither the public tree permit at Section 21-47 nor the nuisance article at Section 21-68 is keyed to size.

What's protected in Appleton

Public trees and shrubs, defined at Section 21-27 as "all trees or shrubs planted or to be planted on any park, playground or other property owned or controlled by the City or on any public street, alley, sidewalk or highway within the public right-of-way, but shall not include school sites."
Every oak tree in the city, seasonally. Section 21-74: "No person shall prune or otherwise wound an oak tree between April 1 and October 31 of any year." The sentence sits in Article III, Tree Insects and Disease, which is not limited to public trees, and it offers no permit and no exception.
Any dead tree, anywhere. Section 21-68(a) declares public nuisances "(1) Any dead tree. (2) Any elm tree infected with the Dutch elm disease fungus or which harbors any carrier of the same. (3) Any oak tree infected with the oak wilt fungus... (4) Any ash tree infected with Emerald Ash Borer. (5) Any tree, bush, shrub or other plant which is infected with an insect or disease capable of infecting other plants."
The terrace near an intersection. Section 19-10(a)(1) declares all vegetation in the terrace within 60 feet of a cross-street right-of-way in the approach direction "a public nuisance and dangerous to the safety and welfare of the people of the City," excepting trees trimmed to 10 feet, and bars planting new trees there.

How to apply in Appleton

1
These steps are for a public tree. A tree behind your lot line needs no permit.
2
Section 21-47(a): apply in writing to the committee of jurisdiction - Municipal Services for a street right-of-way tree, Parks and Recreation for any other public place.
3
Section 21-47(b)(1): the committee weighs "the safety, health and welfare of the public, location of utilities, public sidewalks, driveways and street lights, general character of the area... type of soil, characteristics and physiological needs of the species or variety of tree or shrub" before issuing.
4
Section 21-47(c): the permit describes the work and specifies species, size, nursery grade and location of anything to be planted. Permits expire six months after issuance.
5
Understand the replacement obligation before you start. Section 21-47(b)(2): "No person shall be allowed to remove any public tree without replacing such trees with trees of equivalent dollar value in the vicinity of the removed trees," valued by the Forestry Division using the ISA Guide for Establishing Values of Trees and Shrubs. If no suitable location exists, you make "a compensatory payment to the City equal to the difference in value."

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Penalties: Chapter 21 has no penalty of its own for Article II; Section 21-67 sends Article III violations to the general penalty. Section 1-16(a)(1): a first conviction draws a forfeiture of "not less than one dollar ($1.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) together with the costs of prosecution, and in default of payment... shall be imprisoned in the county jail." Section 1-16(a)(2): a repeat of the same provision draws "not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each such offense." Separately, Section 21-47(b)(2) makes anyone who devalues a public tree "liable for the loss of value of the tree to the community."
Ordinance: Appleton Municipal Code chapter 21 - Vegetation. Article II (Public Trees and Shrubs), Sections 21-26 through 21-48, derives from Code 1965 Section 13.04 and was repealed and recreated by Ordinance 24-12, Section 1, adopted February 20 and 21, 2012. Article III (Tree Insects and Disease), Sections 21-66 through 21-74, derives from Code 1965 Section 13.05 and was repealed and recreated by Ordinance 169-11, Section 1, adopted August 9, 2011; the oak pruning ban at Section 21-74 was created new by that ordinance. Chapter 21 pages carry Supplement 95. Appleton publishes the entire code as a single PDF, current through Supplement 100.

Worth knowing

The city removes only what it has to. Appleton states that "tree removal operations are typically limited to dead, dying or dangerous trees," and warns that "Unwarranted or unapproved tree removals and tree vandalism can result in property owners or involved parties being charged for the cost of the tree removal and the value of the tree."
The terrace is city-managed and the Forestry Division cares for 30,000 street trees and 5,000 park trees with its own crews. The city permits residents to landscape the terrace without a permit with "mowed turf grass, public trees, private plants under 3 feet in height, home gardens under 3 feet in height, and mulch."
The abatement notice on a private nuisance tree is discretionary in form but the consequence is not. Section 21-70(b)(1) lets the City Forester issue written notice directing removal or treatment within "a reasonable period of time," and states that the facts "constitute a public nuisance which may be abated by the City upon failure of the property owner to comply."
Abatement costs become a special tax. Section 21-72(a): the cost "may be charged to and assessed against the parcel or lot abutting on the street, alley, boulevard or parkway upon which such tree stands in accordance with W.S.A. Section 66.0627 or W.S.A. Section 27.09," and Section 21-72(c) has the Clerk levy the amounts "in the same manner as other special taxes."
Moving infested wood needs written permission. Section 21-73: "No person shall transport within the City any bark bearing wood or material that is infested with any insect without first securing the written permission of the City Forester."
The City Forester needs a warrant to come onto your land. Section 21-69(b): the forester "may enter upon private premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of carrying out any of the provision of this article, upon the acquiring of a special inspection warrant." That is a narrower entry power than most Wisconsin cities claim.
Appleton does not license tree services. Chapter 9 (Licenses, Permits) has no tree, arborist or trimmer category; its only tree entry is a Christmas tree dealer license at Section 9-30(7).
The zoning code does not add a homeowner permit. Its landscaping criteria ask only that development "Maintain existing mature trees and shrubs to the maximum extent practicable," which is a site plan review standard, not a permit.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— Whether the oak pruning ban at Section 21-74 actually reaches private property. The text says "an oak tree" with no qualifier and sits in an article about disease that plainly covers private trees, but Appleton publishes no guidance on it and no permit or waiver process exists in the ordinance. This is the decisive question for an Appleton homeowner with an oak, and the published sources do not settle it. Call (920) 832-5580 before you cut.
— Whether the city publishes a fee for the Section 21-47 public tree permit. No amount appears in chapter 21 or in the code's fee provisions.
— How the ISA valuation is applied in practice when a resident removes a public tree, and whether the compensatory payment is ever charged to homeowners rather than developers.
— Whether the city's Street Terrace Policy document, referenced from the street terrace page, adds tree rules beyond the code. The policy itself was not retrieved.
— A direct phone number or email for the Forestry Division. The city publishes only the Public Works main line.
— The exact date Supplement 100 took effect. The code PDF filename carries a February 2026 timestamp but the chapter 21 pages are stamped Supplement 95.

Sources

Who to contact in Appleton

Forestry Division, City of Appleton Department of Public Works. Section 21-28 splits enforcement: "The Municipal Services Committee shall have jurisdiction over all trees located within street right-of-way. The Parks and Recreation Committee shall have jurisdiction over all trees located in any other City-maintained public place."

(920) 832-5580 Official page

Department of Public Works, 2625 E. Glendale Ave, Appleton, WI 54911. City Hall is at 100 N Appleton St., Appleton, WI 54911.

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What's protected in Appleton

Public trees and shrubs, defined at Section 21-27 as "all trees or shrubs planted or to be planted on any park, playground or other property owned or controlled by the City or on any public street, alley, sidewalk or highway within the public right-of-way, but shall not include school sites."

Every oak tree in the city, seasonally. Section 21-74: "No person shall prune or otherwise wound an oak tree between April 1 and October 31 of any year." The sentence sits in Article III, Tree Insects and Disease, which is not limited to public trees, and it offers no permit and no exception.

Any dead tree, anywhere. Section 21-68(a) declares public nuisances "(1) Any dead tree. (2) Any elm tree infected with the Dutch elm disease fungus or which harbors any carrier of the same. (3) Any oak tree infected with the oak wilt fungus... (4) Any ash tree infected with Emerald Ash Borer. (5) Any tree, bush, shrub or other plant which is infected with an insect or disease capable of infecting other plants."

The terrace near an intersection. Section 19-10(a)(1) declares all vegetation in the terrace within 60 feet of a cross-street right-of-way in the approach direction "a public nuisance and dangerous to the safety and welfare of the people of the City," excepting trees trimmed to 10 feet, and bars planting new trees there.

How to apply in Appleton

1
These steps are for a public tree. A tree behind your lot line needs no permit.
2
Section 21-47(a): apply in writing to the committee of jurisdiction - Municipal Services for a street right-of-way tree, Parks and Recreation for any other public place.
3
Section 21-47(b)(1): the committee weighs "the safety, health and welfare of the public, location of utilities, public sidewalks, driveways and street lights, general character of the area... type of soil, characteristics and physiological needs of the species or variety of tree or shrub" before issuing.
4
Section 21-47(c): the permit describes the work and specifies species, size, nursery grade and location of anything to be planted. Permits expire six months after issuance.
5
Understand the replacement obligation before you start. Section 21-47(b)(2): "No person shall be allowed to remove any public tree without replacing such trees with trees of equivalent dollar value in the vicinity of the removed trees," valued by the Forestry Division using the ISA Guide for Establishing Values of Trees and Shrubs. If no suitable location exists, you make "a compensatory payment to the City equal to the difference in value."

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Penalties

Chapter 21 has no penalty of its own for Article II; Section 21-67 sends Article III violations to the general penalty. Section 1-16(a)(1): a first conviction draws a forfeiture of "not less than one dollar ($1.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) together with the costs of prosecution, and in default of payment... shall be imprisoned in the county jail." Section 1-16(a)(2): a repeat of the same provision draws "not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each such offense." Separately, Section 21-47(b)(2) makes anyone who devalues a public tree "liable for the loss of value of the tree to the community."

Ordinance

Appleton Municipal Code chapter 21 - Vegetation. Article II (Public Trees and Shrubs), Sections 21-26 through 21-48, derives from Code 1965 Section 13.04 and was repealed and recreated by Ordinance 24-12, Section 1, adopted February 20 and 21, 2012. Article III (Tree Insects and Disease), Sections 21-66 through 21-74, derives from Code 1965 Section 13.05 and was repealed and recreated by Ordinance 169-11, Section 1, adopted August 9, 2011; the oak pruning ban at Section 21-74 was created new by that ordinance. Chapter 21 pages carry Supplement 95. Appleton publishes the entire code as a single PDF, current through Supplement 100.

Worth knowing

The city removes only what it has to. Appleton states that "tree removal operations are typically limited to dead, dying or dangerous trees," and warns that "Unwarranted or unapproved tree removals and tree vandalism can result in property owners or involved parties being charged for the cost of the tree removal and the value of the tree."
The terrace is city-managed and the Forestry Division cares for 30,000 street trees and 5,000 park trees with its own crews. The city permits residents to landscape the terrace without a permit with "mowed turf grass, public trees, private plants under 3 feet in height, home gardens under 3 feet in height, and mulch."
The abatement notice on a private nuisance tree is discretionary in form but the consequence is not. Section 21-70(b)(1) lets the City Forester issue written notice directing removal or treatment within "a reasonable period of time," and states that the facts "constitute a public nuisance which may be abated by the City upon failure of the property owner to comply."
Abatement costs become a special tax. Section 21-72(a): the cost "may be charged to and assessed against the parcel or lot abutting on the street, alley, boulevard or parkway upon which such tree stands in accordance with W.S.A. Section 66.0627 or W.S.A. Section 27.09," and Section 21-72(c) has the Clerk levy the amounts "in the same manner as other special taxes."
Moving infested wood needs written permission. Section 21-73: "No person shall transport within the City any bark bearing wood or material that is infested with any insect without first securing the written permission of the City Forester."
The City Forester needs a warrant to come onto your land. Section 21-69(b): the forester "may enter upon private premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of carrying out any of the provision of this article, upon the acquiring of a special inspection warrant." That is a narrower entry power than most Wisconsin cities claim.
Appleton does not license tree services. Chapter 9 (Licenses, Permits) has no tree, arborist or trimmer category; its only tree entry is a Christmas tree dealer license at Section 9-30(7).
The zoning code does not add a homeowner permit. Its landscaping criteria ask only that development "Maintain existing mature trees and shrubs to the maximum extent practicable," which is a site plan review standard, not a permit.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— Whether the oak pruning ban at Section 21-74 actually reaches private property. The text says "an oak tree" with no qualifier and sits in an article about disease that plainly covers private trees, but Appleton publishes no guidance on it and no permit or waiver process exists in the ordinance. This is the decisive question for an Appleton homeowner with an oak, and the published sources do not settle it. Call (920) 832-5580 before you cut.
— Whether the city publishes a fee for the Section 21-47 public tree permit. No amount appears in chapter 21 or in the code's fee provisions.
— How the ISA valuation is applied in practice when a resident removes a public tree, and whether the compensatory payment is ever charged to homeowners rather than developers.
— Whether the city's Street Terrace Policy document, referenced from the street terrace page, adds tree rules beyond the code. The policy itself was not retrieved.
— A direct phone number or email for the Forestry Division. The city publishes only the Public Works main line.
— The exact date Supplement 100 took effect. The code PDF filename carries a February 2026 timestamp but the chapter 21 pages are stamped Supplement 95.