Ordinance 758.docxCITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 758
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1 AND CHAPTER 18, CHANHASSEN,
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND SUBDIVISION CODE, DEFINING HERITAGE TREES
AND ADDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS RELATED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SUBDIVISION APPLICATIONS AND PRESERVATION OF OR REPLACEMENT OF
HERITAGE TREES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS:
Section 1. Chapter 1, Section 1-2 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended to include the following:
Heritage Tree means any healthy deciduous or coniferous tree measuring at least
25 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH)
Significant Tree means any healthy tree species measuring five inches or more
DBH; (20)
Critical root zone: the minimum area around the tree that must remain
undisturbed. This is calculated by measuring the tree’s dbh and for each inch of
tree diameter, one foot of root zone radius must be protected. For example, a tree
with a dbh of 10, the critical root zone of the tree is 10 feet (10” dbh x 1’ root
zone protection equals 10 feet of root zone protection measured from the base of
the tree in all directions..
Section 2. Section 18-61(d)(2) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended as follows:
2) Prior to the submittal of development plans, a tree survey of the site shall be
prepared by a registered landscape architect, licensed foresters, or other
professional approved by the city. The tree survey shall reflect conditions on site
at the time of submittal, or shall have been reviewed and updated no more than
two years prior to the submittal date. This survey shall include the species, DBH
size, condition identified as poor, fair, or good, location of all trees over five
inches in diameter and any damaged or diseased trees on site. All heritage,
significant, special, damaged, or diseased trees shall be tagged and identified on
the survey. A delineation of the existing canopy coverage area(s), which outline
all areas covered by tree canopy, shall be included as part of the survey.
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Additionally, all damaged and diseased trees shall be cataloged with the nature
and extent of any damage or disease specified
Section 3. Section 18-61(d)(2)(c) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended to include the following:
c. Priority shall be given to retaining stands of trees and undisturbed wooded
lands , as well as heritage trees. No more than ten percent of the canopy
retention requirement may be met by an individual tree that is not included
within a designated woodland area.
Section 4. Section 18-61(d)(2)(f), Section 18-61(d)(2)(g) and Section 18-61(d)(2)(h) of the City
Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended as follows:
f. In addition to minimum canopy coverage, if a subdivision proposes to
remove heritage trees, the applicant will be subject to additional
replacement requirements. A removal allowance of up to 25% of heritage
tree diameter inches will be given. Heritage trees removed from the site in
excess of the 25% allowance shall be required to be replaced at a rate of 1
inch of replacement for every 1 inch of heritage trees proposed to be
removed These replacement plantings are in addition to and do not count
towards plantings associated with adherence to canopy coverage
requirements. If an applicant can establish to the sole satisfaction of the
city that their site has been designed such that one or more Heritage Trees
are preserved that otherwise would have been removed, the amount of
diameter inches can be subtracted from the replacement requirements set
forth in part f. The diameter inches subtracted from the replacements
required shall not exceed 25% of the replacement trees.
g. Heritage Trees and Significant Trees shall be considered removed, killed, or
lost if:
1. Shown to be removed on the tree removal plan.
2. 30% or more of the trees critical root zone is damaged by construction
activity including but not limited to compaction, cutting, filling or
grade change.
3. There is damage to the trunk of the tree that causes the loss of 40% or
more of the bark.
4. 40% or more of the canopy is pruned or lost due to construction.
h. General Exemptions:
1. The following species are not to be considered as heritage trees but still
need to be listed on a tree survey if over 5 inches in diameter: ash,
aspen, boxelder, elm, mulberry, willow, and fruit trees.
2. Any invasive or noxious species, as defined by the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture, will not be considered a heritage tree.
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Section 5. Section 18-61(d)(9) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended as follows:
9. If any protected significant trees or heritage trees are removed or killed or there is a
loss of trees as the result of construction activities, the city requires replacement at the
rate of two diameter inches per each inch of DBH of the removed, killed, or lost trees
The replacement deciduous trees shall be at least 2½ inches in diameter and
replacement coniferous trees shall be at least 6 feet at the time of planting. For
replacement calculation purposes, a 6-foot coniferous tree shall be counted as 2
inches dbh replacement and an 8-foot coniferous tree shall be counted as 2.5 inches
dbh. All replacement trees will be species that conform to the "list of desirable tree
species" as established in city code section 18-61. No more than ten percent of the
trees may be from any one tree species, no more than 20% from the same genus and
no more than 30% from the same family. Other species or sizes may be used as
replacement trees, subject to approval by the city. Alternatively, at the city's
discretion, if a developer removes trees within a protected area, the canopy coverage
area shall be calculated for that area, and a replacement area two times the canopy
coverage area that was removed shall be planted. One tree shall be planted for each
1,089 square feet of required replacement area. Trees shall be from the list of
desirable tree species, no more than ten percent of trees from any one tree species,
with an average 2½-inch diameter, a similar species as vegetation existing on-site,
and appropriate to the soil conditions. For any replacement trees that cannot be
planted on the original site due to space restrictions, the developer shall pay the city
the value of the trees, including material and installation, into the community tree
planting fund. For any heritage tree that cannot be replaced on site due to space
restrictions, the developer shall pay the city the value of the tree at twice the rate of
the fee set for significant trees as established within the city fee schedule.
Section 6. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of February 2026, by the City Council of the
City of Chanhassen, Minnesota
Jenny Potter, City Clerk Elise Ryan, Mayor
Published in the Sun Sailor on February 19, 2026)
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