Denver, Colorado
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Denver
Denver puts two obligations on tree work. The company must hold a city Tree Contractor License, and the owner must maintain the street tree next to the property but needs a permit to remove it.
- County
- City and County of Denver
- Tree rules
- Office of the City Forester, Denver Parks and Recreation
- Key local rule
- Permit required to remove or plant a tree in the public right-of-way. Tree companies must be city-licensed.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Main hazards
- Wet spring and fall snow, downslope wind, hail, emerald ash borer
Who is responsible for the tree by the street in Denver?
You are. City code requires owners to maintain trees on their property and in the public right-of-way adjacent to it. You still need a permit from the City Forester to remove that tree, plant a new one, or inject it with pesticide.
- Right-of-way
- Usually the strip between sidewalk and curb. On some streets it extends behind the sidewalk.
- City orders
- The City Forester can order pruning or removal of a tree that is dangerous, diseased or obstructing the right-of-way.
- Private yard trees
- Routine pruning and removal need no city permit.
Chapter 57 and the Tree Contractor License
Chapter 57 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code governs trees. It makes it unlawful to plant in, remove from, or perform trunk injections on trees in the public right-of-way without a permit from the City Forester.
The same chapter requires any business that prunes or removes trees for pay in Denver to hold a Tree Contractor License. Applicants are tested and must carry insurance. The Office of the City Forester publishes the licensed contractor list, and hiring from it is the simplest protection an owner has.
Neighboring cities are separate. Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Englewood and Littleton have their own forestry rules and, in several cases, their own contractor licenses.
Denver neighborhoods and their trees
| Area | Trees | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| Park Hill, Washington Park, Congress Park | Century-old silver maples, elms, lindens, honeylocust | Snow-damage repair, large removals with alley access |
| Highlands and Berkeley | Mature street trees among new infill houses | Root damage from construction. Tight sites. |
| Central Park and Green Valley Ranch | Young trees on clay fill | Establishment problems, staking, replacement |
| Along the South Platte and Cherry Creek | Plains cottonwood and willow | Very large limb failures |
Snow in leaf season
Denver's biggest snows come in March, April and the shoulder months on either side of summer. When a foot of wet snow lands on trees that have leafed out, limbs fail across the whole city in one night.
The pattern repeats every few years: a late May storm in 2019, an early September storm in 2020 after record heat, and many before them. Silver maple, Siberian elm, green ash and ornamental pear take the worst of it because of weak branch unions.
After such a storm, licensed contractors are booked for weeks. The city has often opened drop-off sites for branches, and it asks owners to deal promptly with broken limbs hanging over sidewalks and streets, since those are the owner's responsibility.
Ash borer on the Front Range
Emerald ash borer was found in Boulder in 2013 and has spread along the urban corridor. About one in six Denver trees is an ash.
Thinning at the top of the crown
Often dismissed as drought stress for a year or two.
Bark flecked off by woodpeckers
A strong indicator in winter.
Vertical bark splits
With S-shaped tunnels under them.
Treatment needs a permit in the right-of-way
Trunk injection of a street ash requires City Forester approval and a licensed applicator.
Removing a right-of-way tree in Denver
Contact the Office of the City Forester
An inspector assesses whether the tree qualifies for removal.
Get the permit
It states any conditions, including replacement planting.
Hire a licensed tree contractor
Check the name against the city's list.
Replant
Choose from the city's approved street tree list and note the spacing rules.
Denver tree service questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my Denver backyard?
No. Trees on private property can be pruned or removed without a city permit. The company doing the work must still be a licensed tree contractor.
Can I prune the street tree in front of my Denver house myself?
Owners are responsible for maintaining it, and light pruning from the ground is allowed. Hired work must be done by a licensed contractor, and removal needs a permit.
What happens if I ignore a City Forester notice?
The city can have the work done and hold the owner responsible. Respond by the date on the notice.
Should I knock snow off my trees during a Denver storm?
Brush small trees gently from below with a broom. Stay away from large loaded limbs, which can break without warning.
Reach a tree service in Denver
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Denver area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day