The St. Paul City Council has approved an ordinance establishing citywide standards for protecting and replacing trees affected by municipal construction projects.
The measure requires preservation planning before work begins, protective measures for trees near construction areas, clearer responsibilities for contractors and city departments, and replacement standards when removal cannot be avoided. It also calls for improved documentation, monitoring and accountability throughout a project.
The ordinance was developed during an approximately 18-month process involving city staff, arborists, environmental advocates, residents, developers and neighborhood representatives. Council President Rebecca Noecker’s office convened a public input group to work through questions about how tree loss should be measured, when trees must be replaced and how preservation requirements should interact with street, utility and park projects.
Noecker described trees as essential infrastructure that provide shade, improve air quality and support climate resilience. Other council members emphasized the importance of the urban canopy in neighborhoods facing higher levels of heat, pollution and economic disparities.
The ordinance is accompanied by standard operating procedures intended to guide project teams from early design through construction. Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez said the policy creates a consistent standard for preserving trees whenever possible and replacing those that must be removed.
The rules apply to city projects rather than creating a general ban on tree removal. Officials said the goal is to balance environmental protection with the need to maintain streets, utilities, parks and other public infrastructure.
Implementation will require coordination among departments and contractors. The city is expected to incorporate the standards into project planning, bid documents, construction oversight and post-project reporting.
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