City of Madison Terrace Tree Rules — What You Can and Can’t Do

The strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street in Madison is called the terrace (other cities call it the boulevard or tree lawn). Thousands of trees grow in Madison’s terrace areas — and the rules around planting, pruning, and removing them are more specific than most homeowners realize. Here’s a clear breakdown of what the City of Madison actually requires.

Who Owns the Terrace?

The terrace is city right-of-way — it belongs to the City of Madison, not the adjacent property owner. However, the city holds property owners responsible for maintaining the terrace in front of their home, including mowing, clearing snow from sidewalks, and keeping the area free of hazards. This split between ownership and maintenance responsibility is at the root of most terrace tree confusion.

Terrace Tree Planting Rules

You can plant a tree in the terrace in front of your home — but you need city approval first. Madison’s Forestry Division manages the urban forest and has specific rules about species, placement, and size.

You must submit a Terrace Tree Planting Application to the City of Madison Forestry Division before planting. The city reviews the request based on:

  • Terrace width (minimum width requirements apply depending on the tree species)
  • Proximity to utilities, fire hydrants, driveways, and street corners
  • Existing tree diversity in the area (the city tries to avoid planting too many of one species)
  • Species selection — Madison maintains an approved street tree list

Trees planted without a permit can be ordered removed at the property owner’s expense. Don’t skip this step.

Approved Tree Species for Madison Terraces

The city’s approved street tree list includes a range of species suited to Madison’s climate and the physical conditions of the urban terrace. Common approved trees include:

  • Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
  • Honeylocust — thornless varieties only (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
  • Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
  • Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
  • Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
  • American linden (Tilia americana)
  • Ginkgo — male trees only (Ginkgo biloba)
  • Various crabapple cultivars for narrow terraces

Ash trees are no longer on the approved list due to the Emerald Ash Borer. Silver maples are also discouraged due to aggressive root systems and weak wood. Always confirm the current approved list with the Forestry Division before purchasing a tree — the list is updated periodically.

Pruning Terrace Trees: What You Can Do

Property owners may prune terrace trees for routine maintenance — clearing low branches from sidewalks and driveways, for example. However, there are important limits:

  • You may not remove a terrace tree without city approval. Even if the tree is dead, damaged, or causing problems, removal requires a permit from the Forestry Division.
  • Major pruning (removing large limbs or more than 25% of the canopy) requires city authorization. Improper heavy pruning of a city-managed terrace tree can result in fines.
  • Topping trees is prohibited. Topping — cutting back branches to stubs — is considered harmful and is not allowed on terrace trees in Madison.
  • Never hire an unlicensed contractor to prune or remove a terrace tree. Work must be done by a company with the appropriate licenses and insurance. Damage caused by unlicensed work may be the property owner’s financial responsibility.

Terrace Tree Removal: Getting a Permit

If a terrace tree is dead, diseased, or creating a hazard, you’ll need to apply for a removal permit through the City of Madison Forestry Division. The city may:

  • Approve the removal and schedule their crew to do it (for trees the city identifies as hazardous)
  • Approve private removal (at your expense, by a licensed contractor)
  • Deny the removal request if the tree is determined to be healthy and not a hazard

In cases where the city removes the tree, they also handle stump grinding and typically replace the tree — though the replacement species is chosen by the city, not the property owner.

Sidewalk Damage from Terrace Tree Roots

Root heaving — where terrace tree roots push up the sidewalk — is a common complaint in Madison. The city has a process for addressing this. In most cases, the city is responsible for sidewalk repairs caused by city-maintained trees. However, if you altered the terrace, planted a tree without a permit, or made changes that contributed to the root problem, you may share in the cost.

If you have a sidewalk heaved by a terrace tree root, report it to the City of Madison through their 311 service or the Forestry Division directly. Do not attempt to cut tree roots yourself — cutting major roots can destabilize the tree and create a hazard.

How We Can Help

Navigating Madison’s terrace tree rules can be confusing — especially when a tree is clearly causing problems and it’s not clear who needs to act. Our team is familiar with Madison’s urban forestry ordinances and can help you understand what’s permitted, prepare permit applications, and perform any approved pruning or removal work with full licensing and insurance.

We serve all Madison neighborhoods and surrounding Dane County communities. Contact us for a free consultation about your terrace tree situation.

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