Private Property Tree Credit

The Village will award tree credits to property owners who proactively plant trees on their property. This tree credit may be used to off-set future tree replacements when trees are removed on the same property. Trees planted for credit will only be credited for future replacements and only those trees appropriately recorded by the Village may be used for credit. Once a credit it used, it may not be used again. Tree credits will only be given for trees that are planted at will at the expense of the property owner – not for trees that are planted as replacements due to tree preservation requirements, tree adoptions or any other requirements.

In order to qualify for a tree credit the following criteria must be met.

1. Trees selected from the Appendix A tree list shall have a replacement value three times that of non Appendix A trees. Non Appendix A tree species have a replacement value of 33% of Appendix A tree species. For example: One 9” Appendix A tree has the replacement value of three, 9” non Appendix A trees or one 27” non Appendix A tree.

2. Trees to be planted on the property must be a minimum of 2.5” in DBH or, if clump or evergreen variety, shall be a minimum planting height of 8 feet at the time of planting.

3. Tree species must be selected for appropriate locations to support their growth and development.

4. Trees planted for credit shall be verified by the Village. Tree locations shall be marked on a property survey and listed on a Tree Credit Record which will be kept with the property file at the Village of Lincolnshire. If the property owner wishes to have a copy of the survey and Record they must request them. In addition, a numbered blue metal Tree Credit Tag will be placed on the tree at time of recording.

5. Credit will only be given for tree planting if:

   1. The tree is tagged and verified on the property within the year it was planted.
   2. The tree is a minimum required size at time of verification.
   3. The tree species is appropriate for the location.
   4. The tree is of good form and health at the time of replacement credit.
   5. The Tree Credit Tag is located on the tree at the time a replacement credit is requested.

      1. It is the responsibility of the property owner to remove the tree tag, if the banding becomes constricted, and replace the tag on the tree. It is recommended that at the time the tree is approximately 6 years old a tree nail be used to secure the tag. Care shall be taken to secure the tag to the tree without imbedding the nail head or tag – allowing room for the tree to grow without absorbing the tag.

6. At the time of recording, Village staff shall tag the credit tree and record the date, tree planting location and tree number on the property survey. A property tree credit record shall be maintained in the property file for future reference.

7. When a tree replacement is required, the property owner shall request that the Village verify credit plantings from the property file and on the property.

8. Trees, planted for credit, must be in good form and health at the time of replacement credit. Trees in poor condition or form will not be credited.

9. The Village shall field verify for growth and the size. The DBH at time of replacement shall be the credit applied.

10. A tree credit will only be given once for each individual tree planted regardless of its size. For example: Two Appendix A credit trees are planted at 3” DBH. Within a year’s time the trees are 5” in DBH each. That same year the property owner wishes to remove another Appendix A tree that is 8” in DBH. The two credit trees are valued at 10” and the tree to be removed is valued at 8”. The two credit trees will be used as replacement for the 8” removal. No further credit will be given for the two credit trees or any remaining inches of those two credit trees.

For more information on the Tree Credit, or to get a Tree Credit, call the Village Environmental Services Division at 847.883.8600.