Colorado Tree Ordinances
Tree removal permits, protected species, and statute citations for 29 Colorado cities.
Colorado tree regulation in plain terms
Colorado leaves tree permit authority to home-rule cities. Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs each run their own permit programs — nothing at the state level for urban tree removal. Forest Service rules apply to federal land, and the Colorado State Forest Service runs wildfire-related removal programs, but neither touches residential ordinances.
The dominant tree regulation driver in Colorado right now is emerald ash borer. Cities across the Front Range have adopted mandatory ash removal ordinances when EAB is confirmed — Boulder's 2013 EAB discovery triggered the first wave, and most Denver metro cities followed with ash-specific removal protocols that sit alongside standard tree ordinances.
Cities with published ordinances (29)
Arvada
Jefferson County
Aurora
Arapahoe County
Boulder
Boulder County
Brighton
Adams County
Broomfield
Broomfield County
Castle Rock
Douglas County
Centennial
Arapahoe County
Colorado Springs
El Paso County
Commerce City
Adams County
Denver
Denver County
Durango
La Plata County
Englewood
Arapahoe County
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Golden
Jefferson County
Grand Junction
Mesa County
Greeley
Weld County
Lafayette
Boulder County
Lakewood
Jefferson County
Littleton
Arapahoe County
Longmont
Boulder County
Louisville
Boulder County
Loveland
Larimer County
Northglenn
Adams County
Parker
Douglas County
Pueblo
Pueblo County
Steamboat Springs
Routt County
Thornton
Adams County
Westminster
Adams County
Wheat Ridge
Jefferson County
Colorado statutes and primary sources
Frequent questions about Colorado tree rules
Does Colorado have a statewide tree removal permit?
No. Permits are handled by individual home-rule cities. The state forest service regulates wildfire-mitigation removals on state land but not residential tree removal.
Do I need a permit to remove an ash tree in Colorado?
Most Front Range cities (Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Lakewood) have EAB-specific ash tree removal protocols. Removing an infested ash often has streamlined permitting but requires a licensed tree service and chip disposal per city rules.
What trees are typically protected in Denver and Boulder?
Denver protects street trees and trees in public right-of-way; Boulder adds heritage trees and trees in riparian buffers. Private-property trees generally don't require a permit unless they're in a right-of-way, a designated heritage tree, or on a protected species list.
Do Colorado cities require an ISA Certified Arborist?
Most Denver metro cities require ISA Certified Arborist credentials for work on protected or public trees. EAB removal work also typically requires a state-licensed tree service in addition to the arborist credential.
What is the Colorado State Forest Service's role in tree removal?
CSFS manages state forest land and runs wildfire mitigation programs. For residential tree removal, CSFS is an advisory resource — the permit comes from your city.
Need a tree report for a Colorado city?
Start your free TRAQ assessment — we guide you through the specific permit your city needs.