Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
Elgin is the trap in this list. Section 19.16.040 flatly makes it unlawful to remove any tree in the city without a tree removal permit, then section 19.16.030 exempts single-family residentially zoned lots under two acres on which a residence has already been built and occupied. Most Elgin homeowners land inside that exemption and need nothing. If your lot is two acres or larger, or the house is not yet built and occupied, the permit is mandatory and the fine for skipping it is $200 for every inch of trunk diameter.
Size threshold
Elgin sets no diameter floor. Section 19.16.040 reaches any tree: "It shall be unlawful for any person to cut down, destroy, remove or move, or effectively destroy through damaging, or authorize the cutting down, destroying, removing, moving or damaging of any tree, unless exempted under section 19.16.030, without first obtaining a tree removal permit." The threshold is the lot, not the tree. Section 19.16.030.A.1 exempts "Single-family residentially zoned lots that are less in area than two (2) acres on which a residence has been constructed and occupied."
What's protected in Elgin
- Any tree of any size on a single-family lot of two acres or more
- Any tree of any size on a single-family lot where a residence has not yet been constructed and occupied
- Any tree on multifamily, commercial or industrial property
- Parkway trees in the public right-of-way, which are exempt from Chapter 19.16 but separately covered by section 13.20.020: "It is unlawful to trim, cut or remove any tree or portion thereof in the public right-of-way without approval of the department of public works."
How to apply in Elgin
- 1
Check the exemption first. A single-family residentially zoned lot under two acres with a house already built and occupied is outside the chapter entirely.
- 2
If you are not exempt, submit a tree removal permit application to the development administrator.
- 3
Permits are issued for four reasons only: the tree is dead or dying; it is diseased; it is damaged or injured enough that it is likely to die or become diseased or constitutes a hazard to persons or property; or removal is consistent with good forestry practices.
- 4
Where no building permit or zoning petition is involved, the application must include your name and address, the name, address, telephone, fax and email of the contractor or other person responsible for the removal, a tree survey showing species, size and condition of the tree to be removed, the reasons for removal, and a letter of credit equal to the cost of replacing the trees.
- 5
Where the removal is tied to construction requiring a building permit, submit a tree preservation plan with the application instead.
- 6
Emergency route, section 19.16.080: if a tree poses a threat and needs immediate removal, such as one that has blown over or been struck by lightning, the city may give verbal authorization and the tree can come down without a written permit. The development administrator keeps a written record of the verbal authorization.
- 7
If the chapter causes hardship you may apply for a variation under Chapter 19.70.
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Fee
- Section 19.16.040: "The fee for such permit shall be covered by the cost of building permit or zoning petition fee." Where no building permit or zoning petition is involved, subsection B says "there shall be no charge for such permit." Note that a no-fee application still requires "A letter of credit equaling the cost of replacement of the trees that are to be removed."
- Penalties
- Section 19.16.100(B): "Failure to obtain a tree removal permit prior to removing trees shall result in a fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per inch of tree diameter measured at dbh." Subsection E requires replacement with trees "whose sum of caliper equals the sum of dbh of the trees removed, with a minimum caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches." Subsection F is the punitive one: "Any violation of this chapter in which the dbh and/or species of a tree cannot be determined, the tree shall be replaced with sixteen (16) trees with a minimum caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches, and any other penalties pursuant to this chapter." The city may also issue a stop work order.
- Ordinance
- Elgin Municipal Code, Title 19 (Zoning), Chapter 19.16 - Tree Preservation, sections 19.16.010 through 19.16.100, enacted by Ord. No. G12-13, 2013. Right-of-way trees are Title 13, Chapter 13.20 - Trees and Shrubs (Ord. No. G41-78). Code current through Ordinance No. G13-26, enacted March 25, 2026 (Supp. No. 7).
Worth knowing
- Replacement is calculated from a condition rating and a species group drawn from Species Ratings and Appraisal Factors for Illinois, published by the Illinois Arborist Association. Only trees rated 1, 2 or 3 (excellent through fair) have to be replaced, and replacements must come from species Groups A and B.
- Elgin's definition of "damage" is unusually broad and covers girdling, root compaction, digging within the root zone, filling soil over roots and attaching objects, not just cutting. Pruning to national standards is expressly excluded.
- Section 19.16.030 also exempts commercial nurseries and orchards, properties under a development plan approved before February 13, 2013, parkway trees, and property owned by the city, state, federal government, school districts, forest preserve districts, counties, townships, Elgin Community College or public utilities.
- Elgin's Dutch elm disease rules are in Title 9, Chapter 9.20, separate from the tree preservation chapter.
- Section 13.20.050 requires you to trim or remove any tree overhanging a public way below ten feet or likely to fall across it. If you do not act within ten days of written notice, public works does the work and charges you.
- The Forestry Division maintains "trees located in the treebank as well as trees located in city parks and other municipal facilities." Elgin is a Sterling Tree City U.S.A.
- The city discontinued its mulch delivery program, citing limited Forestry Division resources.
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.
- — A direct phone number for the development administrator or the Forestry Division. Only the main city number, 847-931-6001, is published. Elgin also runs a 311 service.
- — Whether Elgin licenses, bonds or registers tree service companies. No tree service or arborist article appears in Title 6 (Business Licenses and Regulations), but a general business license may still apply.
- — Whether tree removal in one of Elgin's local historic districts additionally requires a Certificate of Appropriateness. Title 20 covers historic preservation and Chapter 19.15 covers preservation districts, but neither was confirmed to reach tree removal.
- — How the letter of credit for a no-fee permit is calculated and released.
- — The city's public Forestry pages describe only public tree work and its FAQ notes that "The majority of our trees and natural resources exist on private property" without mentioning the permit at all. The permit requirement is verified from the codified ordinance, not from the city's homeowner-facing pages.