Tree Removal Permits in St. Charles, MO

Verified against St. Charles city sources · last checked 2026-08-06

Do you need a permit?

It depends on the tree

St. Charles is the one Missouri city on this list with a real tree preservation article that reaches private land, and it turns entirely on lot size. Zoning Code Section 400.630(B) says it "shall be applicable to all properties within the City" and makes it unlawful to remove a tree without a permit, then immediately narrows that: a permit is required for "removal of fifty percent (50%) or more of live trees ten (10) inches or greater in diameter breast height (DBH); provided, however, that no such permit shall be required for any parcel less than one (1) acre in size." So on an ordinary sub-acre house lot you need nothing at all. On an acre or more, taking out half or more of your big trees needs a permit from Community Development. Separately, watch out for the topping rule, which bans your tree company from topping any tree in your front yard.

Size threshold

"A permit shall be required for all grading, earth-moving, changing of elevation of property or removal of fifty percent (50%) or more of live trees ten (10) inches or greater in diameter breast height (DBH); provided, however, that no such permit shall be required for any parcel less than one (1) acre in size or incidental to construction on a parcel of land one (1) acre or more in size for the purpose of constructing a single-family home, accessory structure or private drive."

What's protected in St. Charles

Live trees 10 inches DBH or greater on a parcel of one acre or more, once you are removing 50 percent or more of them.
Street trees — "Any tree located within the right-of-way of any public street or alley open to travel within the City." Section 225.030: "It shall be unlawful for any person to transplant, move or otherwise disturb, alter or do any surgery on any street tree without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Director of Public Works or designee."
Any tree in your front yard, against topping for hire. Section 225.050(B)(2): "It shall be unlawful for any person working for hire to top any tree, whether on private or public land, within the corporate limits of the City; except that this Subsection shall not apply to work on any tree within that portion of the side yard behind the front building line or the rear yard, as defined in Section 400.050 of property utilized as a residence." Topping on city land or public right-of-way is banned outright for everyone.
Trees required by a previously approved development plan — "The requirements contained in a development plan, previously approved by the City, including established drainage design, tree planting and preservation requirements and all other landscaping requirements, shall continue in perpetuity or until an amendment is duly authorized."
Bradford pear trees are banned from sale and planting, though not from removal. Section 225.135, effective January 1, 2024: "It shall be unlawful for any person, nursery, or business entity to sell, offer for sale, or distribute Bradford Pear Trees within the City of St. Charles" and "It shall be unlawful for any person, property owner, or entity to plant or otherwise intentionally introduce Bradford Pear Trees within the City of St. Charles."

How to apply in St. Charles

1
First measure your lot. Under one acre and there is no tree permit at all.
2
On a parcel of one acre or more, count the live trees of 10 inches DBH or more. Under half of them and no permit is required.
3
If a permit is required, submit a development plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission, or to the Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board if the property is in one of the historic districts or the extended historic district.
4
The plan must show "the species, size at diameter breast height and location of existing trees with a DBH of ten (10) inches or greater within an area to be disturbed by construction," designated as preserved or removed, plus grading contours at two-foot intervals and a drainage design.
5
Flag the trees using the city's color code: "Red for trees to be saved; Blue for trees to be removed."
6
Expect replacement. "Except for fifty percent (50%) of the existing trees which may be removed without a permit, any tree ten (10) inches DBH or larger removed from an approved development shall be replaced at a ratio equal to the number of inches contained in the diameter of the tree removed." The minimum replacement is 2.5 inches DBH, and if the site cannot hold them "the owner shall be assessed fifty dollars ($50.00) for each inch of DBH which cannot be replaced," paid into the City Tree Bank.
7
Fence what you keep: "All trees on public or private property that are designated for preservation shall be guarded by a four (4) foot high barrier that designates the enclosed area as a tree protection zone."
8
Appeals go to the Planning and Zoning Commission within five days of the decision, then to the City Council within another five days.

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee: The street tree permit under Chapter 225 is free: Section 225.040 states "There shall be no charge for any permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article." No standalone tree removal fee appears on the city fee schedule. The grading side of the same Section 400.630 permit is priced under Excavation, Grading and Stormwater Control: "$20.00 per 1,000 cubic yards (or fraction thereof)," minimum $75.00 for projects of 50 to 1,000 cubic yards, minimum $150.00 for projects over 1,000 cubic yards, maximum $2,500.00, plus a $125.00 improvement plan review.
Penalties: Chapter 225 routes tree violations to the general penalty at Section 100.150: a fine "not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding three (3) months or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit." A tree overhanging or interfering with a street can be declared a public nuisance, and "If not corrected or removed within the time allotted, the Director of Public Works shall cause the nuisance to be corrected or removed and the cost shall be assessed against the owner or occupant and collected as provided by law."
Ordinance: City of St. Charles Code of Ordinances Chapter 400 (Zoning Code), Article IV — Tree Preservation, Sections 400.630 through 400.650, adopted by Ord. No. 01-156 (July 19, 2001) and amended by Ord. No. 03-98 (May 13, 2003), with Section 400.650 last amended by Ord. No. 24-001 (January 2, 2024). Street trees are governed separately by Chapter 225 — Trees and Shrubs, Weeds, Sections 225.010 through 225.180, originally Ord. No. 88-6 (January 20, 1988), amended by Ord. No. 01-156 (July 19, 2001) and Ord. No. 03-303 (November 26, 2003), with the Bradford pear ban added by Ord. No. 23-089 (July 18, 2023, effective January 1, 2024). The code is published on eCode360 with uncodified new laws listed through Ord. No. 26-055, adopted July 7, 2026.

Worth knowing

The topping rule is the one most homeowners trip over and it binds the contractor, not you. A tree service may not top any tree in your front yard for hire anywhere in St. Charles, and nobody may top a tree on city land or in the public right-of-way at all.
The city splits the cost of removing a hazardous right-of-way tree. Section 225.110 establishes a Cost-Sharing Tree Removal and Tree-Trimming Program: "The City will pay fifty percent (50%) of the costs of trimming or removing dangerous, dead or damaged trees located within City right-of-way." The Director of Public Works decides whether the tree needs to come out, work is first-come first-served, and the owner's share can be waived by the Mayor on a low-income basis. If the city caused the damage, the city pays it all.
You are responsible for the street tree in front of your house even though you did not plant it. "Maintenance of a street tree shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property adjacent to the tree location."
Clearance rules reach private trees. "All trees standing in or extending over any street, including sidewalks, shall be kept trimmed to the heights described in Section 225.050. This provision applies to both street trees and trees located on private property," meaning nine feet of clearance on the sidewalk side and twelve to fourteen feet over the roadway.
St. Charles has 26 individual Landmarks and 6 historic districts covering more than 3,000 properties. Section 400.640 routes any development plan inside a historic district to the Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board rather than to Planning and Zoning. Call 636-949-3228 if you are inside one.
Missouri law bans yard waste from landfills, so your tree debris has to go somewhere else. St. Charles runs weekly curbside yard waste collection on a subscription basis at a three-month minimum of $39.66, or by $4.30 per-container tags for occasional use.
Missouri law punishes cutting a tree that is not yours. RSMo 537.340 awards treble damages for cutting down, injuring or destroying "any tree placed or growing for use, shade or ornament" on someone else's land, and the claimant "need not prove negligence or intent."
The City of St. Charles and St. Charles County are separate jurisdictions, and neighboring St. Peters and O'Fallon are separate cities with their own codes.

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.

— No stcharlescitymo.gov page states the sub-acre exemption in plain language. The answer rests on the code text at Section 400.630(B)(1), which we read directly on eCode360; no city web page corroborates it.
— No tree removal permit application form or fee line item is published. The city fee schedule prices excavation and grading but has no tree entry, and the online permitting portal lists no tree permit type.
— How the city counts "fifty percent (50%) or more of live trees ten (10) inches or greater" in practice on an established residential acre with no construction underway. The review machinery in Section 400.640 is written entirely around development plans.
— Whether a tree service needs a St. Charles business license. Section 605.020 requires one for any occupation "expressly named in Section 605.010 or impliedly encompassed within Section 605.010," but the licensing article names no tree service, arborist or contractor category. There is no arborist licensing or insurance requirement anywhere in the code.
— Whether the Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board reviews tree removal on its own. Its published scope covers the exterior of buildings, fences, demolition and new construction, and Section 400.640 reaches it only through a development plan.
— Whether the City Tree Bank established by Section 400.640(A)(5) holds any funds or has ever been drawn on.
— Ord. No. 26-042, adopted May 19, 2026, amends Chapter 400 but its text concerns data centers and the definition of warehouse in Section 400.050, not Article IV. Uncodified ordinances through July 7, 2026 were not individually reviewed for tree content.

Sources

Who to contact in St. Charles

Department of Community Development (tree removal and grading permits under Zoning Code Article IV) and Public Works Street Division (street trees)

636-949-3222 (Community Development); 636-949-3363 (Street Division); 636-949-3366 (after-hours emergency); 636-949-3228 (Historic Landmarks staff); 636-949-3200 (City Hall) Official page

City Hall, 200 North Second Street, St. Charles, MO 63301; Street Division, 2871 Elm Point Industrial Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301

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Size threshold

What's protected in St. Charles

Live trees 10 inches DBH or greater on a parcel of one acre or more, once you are removing 50 percent or more of them.

Street trees — "Any tree located within the right-of-way of any public street or alley open to travel within the City." Section 225.030: "It shall be unlawful for any person to transplant, move or otherwise disturb, alter or do any surgery on any street tree without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Director of Public Works or designee."

Any tree in your front yard, against topping for hire. Section 225.050(B)(2): "It shall be unlawful for any person working for hire to top any tree, whether on private or public land, within the corporate limits of the City; except that this Subsection shall not apply to work on any tree within that portion of the side yard behind the front building line or the rear yard, as defined in Section 400.050 of property utilized as a residence." Topping on city land or public right-of-way is banned outright for everyone.

Trees required by a previously approved development plan — "The requirements contained in a development plan, previously approved by the City, including established drainage design, tree planting and preservation requirements and all other landscaping requirements, shall continue in perpetuity or until an amendment is duly authorized."

Bradford pear trees are banned from sale and planting, though not from removal. Section 225.135, effective January 1, 2024: "It shall be unlawful for any person, nursery, or business entity to sell, offer for sale, or distribute Bradford Pear Trees within the City of St. Charles" and "It shall be unlawful for any person, property owner, or entity to plant or otherwise intentionally introduce Bradford Pear Trees within the City of St. Charles."

How to apply in St. Charles

1
First measure your lot. Under one acre and there is no tree permit at all.
2
On a parcel of one acre or more, count the live trees of 10 inches DBH or more. Under half of them and no permit is required.
3
If a permit is required, submit a development plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission, or to the Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board if the property is in one of the historic districts or the extended historic district.
4
The plan must show "the species, size at diameter breast height and location of existing trees with a DBH of ten (10) inches or greater within an area to be disturbed by construction," designated as preserved or removed, plus grading contours at two-foot intervals and a drainage design.
5
Flag the trees using the city's color code: "Red for trees to be saved; Blue for trees to be removed."
6
Expect replacement. "Except for fifty percent (50%) of the existing trees which may be removed without a permit, any tree ten (10) inches DBH or larger removed from an approved development shall be replaced at a ratio equal to the number of inches contained in the diameter of the tree removed." The minimum replacement is 2.5 inches DBH, and if the site cannot hold them "the owner shall be assessed fifty dollars ($50.00) for each inch of DBH which cannot be replaced," paid into the City Tree Bank.
7
Fence what you keep: "All trees on public or private property that are designated for preservation shall be guarded by a four (4) foot high barrier that designates the enclosed area as a tree protection zone."
8
Appeals go to the Planning and Zoning Commission within five days of the decision, then to the City Council within another five days.

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee

The street tree permit under Chapter 225 is free: Section 225.040 states "There shall be no charge for any permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article." No standalone tree removal fee appears on the city fee schedule. The grading side of the same Section 400.630 permit is priced under Excavation, Grading and Stormwater Control: "$20.00 per 1,000 cubic yards (or fraction thereof)," minimum $75.00 for projects of 50 to 1,000 cubic yards, minimum $150.00 for projects over 1,000 cubic yards, maximum $2,500.00, plus a $125.00 improvement plan review.

Penalties

Chapter 225 routes tree violations to the general penalty at Section 100.150: a fine "not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding three (3) months or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit." A tree overhanging or interfering with a street can be declared a public nuisance, and "If not corrected or removed within the time allotted, the Director of Public Works shall cause the nuisance to be corrected or removed and the cost shall be assessed against the owner or occupant and collected as provided by law."

Ordinance

City of St. Charles Code of Ordinances Chapter 400 (Zoning Code), Article IV — Tree Preservation, Sections 400.630 through 400.650, adopted by Ord. No. 01-156 (July 19, 2001) and amended by Ord. No. 03-98 (May 13, 2003), with Section 400.650 last amended by Ord. No. 24-001 (January 2, 2024). Street trees are governed separately by Chapter 225 — Trees and Shrubs, Weeds, Sections 225.010 through 225.180, originally Ord. No. 88-6 (January 20, 1988), amended by Ord. No. 01-156 (July 19, 2001) and Ord. No. 03-303 (November 26, 2003), with the Bradford pear ban added by Ord. No. 23-089 (July 18, 2023, effective January 1, 2024). The code is published on eCode360 with uncodified new laws listed through Ord. No. 26-055, adopted July 7, 2026.

Worth knowing

The topping rule is the one most homeowners trip over and it binds the contractor, not you. A tree service may not top any tree in your front yard for hire anywhere in St. Charles, and nobody may top a tree on city land or in the public right-of-way at all.
The city splits the cost of removing a hazardous right-of-way tree. Section 225.110 establishes a Cost-Sharing Tree Removal and Tree-Trimming Program: "The City will pay fifty percent (50%) of the costs of trimming or removing dangerous, dead or damaged trees located within City right-of-way." The Director of Public Works decides whether the tree needs to come out, work is first-come first-served, and the owner's share can be waived by the Mayor on a low-income basis. If the city caused the damage, the city pays it all.
You are responsible for the street tree in front of your house even though you did not plant it. "Maintenance of a street tree shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property adjacent to the tree location."
Clearance rules reach private trees. "All trees standing in or extending over any street, including sidewalks, shall be kept trimmed to the heights described in Section 225.050. This provision applies to both street trees and trees located on private property," meaning nine feet of clearance on the sidewalk side and twelve to fourteen feet over the roadway.
St. Charles has 26 individual Landmarks and 6 historic districts covering more than 3,000 properties. Section 400.640 routes any development plan inside a historic district to the Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board rather than to Planning and Zoning. Call 636-949-3228 if you are inside one.
Missouri law bans yard waste from landfills, so your tree debris has to go somewhere else. St. Charles runs weekly curbside yard waste collection on a subscription basis at a three-month minimum of $39.66, or by $4.30 per-container tags for occasional use.
Missouri law punishes cutting a tree that is not yours. RSMo 537.340 awards treble damages for cutting down, injuring or destroying "any tree placed or growing for use, shade or ornament" on someone else's land, and the claimant "need not prove negligence or intent."
The City of St. Charles and St. Charles County are separate jurisdictions, and neighboring St. Peters and O'Fallon are separate cities with their own codes.

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.

— No stcharlescitymo.gov page states the sub-acre exemption in plain language. The answer rests on the code text at Section 400.630(B)(1), which we read directly on eCode360; no city web page corroborates it.
— No tree removal permit application form or fee line item is published. The city fee schedule prices excavation and grading but has no tree entry, and the online permitting portal lists no tree permit type.
— How the city counts "fifty percent (50%) or more of live trees ten (10) inches or greater" in practice on an established residential acre with no construction underway. The review machinery in Section 400.640 is written entirely around development plans.
— Whether a tree service needs a St. Charles business license. Section 605.020 requires one for any occupation "expressly named in Section 605.010 or impliedly encompassed within Section 605.010," but the licensing article names no tree service, arborist or contractor category. There is no arborist licensing or insurance requirement anywhere in the code.
— Whether the Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board reviews tree removal on its own. Its published scope covers the exterior of buildings, fences, demolition and new construction, and Section 400.640 reaches it only through a development plan.
— Whether the City Tree Bank established by Section 400.640(A)(5) holds any funds or has ever been drawn on.
— Ord. No. 26-042, adopted May 19, 2026, amends Chapter 400 but its text concerns data centers and the definition of warehouse in Section 400.050, not Article IV. Uncodified ordinances through July 7, 2026 were not individually reviewed for tree content.