Bozeman, Montana
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Bozeman
Bozeman's Forestry Division maintains about 28,000 trees on city property, and city code requires a permit before removing or pruning a public tree. Topping is prohibited, and owners must keep branches over streets and sidewalks above set clearance heights, even when the tree is on private land.
- County
- Gallatin
- Tree rules
- Bozeman Municipal Code Chapter 16 (trees); Parks and Recreation Forestry Division
- Key local rule
- Permit to remove or prune public trees; topping prohibited; clearance over streets and sidewalks
- Electric utility
- NorthWestern Energy
- Main hazards
- Early and late snow on leafed trees, extreme cold, wind, possible emerald ash borer
What does Bozeman regulate?
Public trees, mainly. A permit is required before removing or pruning a tree on public property, and the city forester decides removal requests. Topping is prohibited. Private owners must keep branches over public streets and sidewalks pruned to minimum clearance heights. Development projects that remove public trees must complete the city's public tree reimbursement form before site plan approval.
- Public trees
- Permit for removal and pruning.
- Topping
- Prohibited.
- Overhanging branches
- Must meet clearance over streets and walks.
Common Bozeman trees
| Tree | Notes |
|---|---|
| Green ash | Common street tree, at risk if the borer arrives |
| Linden | Hardy shade tree |
| Spruce and pine | Evergreens in yards and parks |
| Cottonwood | Along creeks, brittle wood |
| Crabapple | Ornamental, prone to fire blight |
Getting ready for emerald ash borer
Ash make up more than 40 percent of publicly owned trees in 20 Montana communities, according to Montana State University Extension. The borer had not been found in Montana as of 2021, when the state adopted emergency measures to keep it out, and a multi-agency readiness and response plan was published in 2025.
For Bozeman owners, the practical steps now are to know which trees are ash, avoid planting more, and decide which ash would be worth treating if the borer arrives.
Bozeman's rapid growth has also put new pressure on trees, as infill and new subdivisions crowd root zones. Protecting existing trees during construction, and planting a diverse mix of species, both make the city forest more resilient whatever pest arrives.
Colorado's experience, where the borer reached Boulder in 2013 and Colorado Springs in 2026, shows how quickly it can follow human movement of wood.
Gallatin Valley warning signs
Broken limbs after a September snow
Leafed trees load up fast.
Frost cracks on south-facing trunks
Winter sun and extreme cold.
Topped trees resprouting
Weak regrowth from illegal topping.
Ash with thinning tops
Report possible emerald ash borer to the state.
Working on a tree near the street
Find the property line
Boulevard trees are usually public.
Get a permit for public trees
Before pruning or removal.
Prune private overhangs
To the required clearance.
Never top
It is prohibited and harms the tree.
City code on trees
Under the city's tree code, the city forester may approve removal of a public tree when it is harmful to the community because of disease, insect damage or similar problems. The person requesting a removal for other reasons is responsible for the work and for the tree's value.
The Forestry Division's tree list includes ash among its many species, which matters with emerald ash borer moving west.
Bozeman tree questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my backyard?
The city's permit rules focus on public trees. Private trees are generally the owner's responsibility, subject to clearance and topping rules.
Has emerald ash borer reached Bozeman?
Check with the Montana Department of Agriculture for current status. It had not been detected as of the state's 2021 measures.
Why is topping banned?
Topping leaves stubs that decay and triggers weak, fast regrowth that breaks easily.
How high must branches be over sidewalks?
City code sets minimum clearance heights. Ask the Forestry Division for current figures.
What trees does the city recommend planting?
A diverse mix suited to cold winters, with the Forestry Division's approved street tree list as the guide.
Who prunes the boulevard trees in Bozeman?
The city's Forestry Division maintains trees on city property and in the right-of-way. Residents need a permit to prune them.
Montana and Rockies pages
- MissoulaWestern Montana.
- Montana tree serviceStatewide context.
- BoulderWhere emerald ash borer reached the Rockies.
- Crown reductionThe right alternative to topping.
- BismarckNorth Dakota's capital prepared for emerald ash borer by removing boulevard ash before it arrived.
- Rapid CityThe 1996 to 2016 Black Hills pine beetle epidemic.
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