Davenport Tree Preservation Rules

Municipal code 17.11.100 – Tree Preservation requires existing trees over six inches in diameter at breast height and in good condition should be preserved to the maximum extent practicable to act as buffers between adjoining developments and as site amenities. These standards apply to new multi-family and townhouse residential and non-residential (including mixed-use) development. Trees that are dead or dying, or species deemed to be undesirable by the City, or found to be a threat to public safety, are exempt from these provisions.

The Tree Preservation code also prohibits the clear-cutting of forest. Clear-cutting, which is the felling and removal of all trees from a given tract of forest, is prohibited. A forest is a land region with a high concentration of trees, which is divided into an overstory (canopy or upper tree layer) and an understory of vegetation, which may be further divided into a shrub layer, herb layer, and, depending on the ecosystem, a moss layer.

Municipal code 8.14.330 Protection and replacement of trees, shrubs and vegetation requires that all trees or shrubs and their root systems on City property or in the City right-of-way shall be protected from damages or disturbances by infrastructure maintenance and construction activities The City arborist shall determine any physical protection or precautions required during construction, boring or excavation adjacent to trees or shrubs on City property or in the right-of-way. Any person injuring, damaging or destroying vegetation in violation of this article shall in addition to any other penalty imposed by this article be required to repair or replace the vegetation damaged as and to the extent deemed necessary by the City arborist.