Parks and Public Spaces
Forestry staff actively manage trees in city parks, outlots, trails and other public lands. This work includes monitoring, pruning, planting, removal and treatment as needed, based on forestry best practices.
Right-of-Way
Right-of-way trees are owned by the underlying property owner. However, the city manages these trees to ensure safe passage of vehicles and pedestrians. There is no cost to property owners for this work.
Right-of-way maintenance includes:
- Pruning to clear vegetation that blocks sightlines or interferes with traffic
- Winter pruning (between November and March) in advance of road reconstruction projects and to ensure that neighborhood streets are pruned on a roughly 10-year cycle.
- Removal of trees that pose a risk to the road, including those with Dutch elm disease, oak wilt and emerald ash borer (EAB). Please note tree stumps are cut low to the ground; however, stump grinding is not provided.
- Preemptive removal of ash trees to slow the spread of emerald ash borer.
Learn more on our Streets and Sidewalks page.
Removal of trees on private property
Property owners are required to remove private-property trees (outside the right-of-way) that pose a risk to roads or public trails. State law governs risk trees on private property – including dead trees, overhanging branches and spreading roots that may impact neighboring properties.
The city’s forestry team manages trees impacted by disease and pests. This includes Dutch elm disease, oak wilt and emerald ash borer (EAB) on private and public property. The program also actively prepares for emerging or new threats to the community forest.
Natural resources staff provide consultation and inspection services to residents to diagnose and verify if a tree has Dutch elm disease, oak wilt or emerald ash borer. Our tree inspectors also scout the city by street in summer.
Call the forestry office at 952-988-8407 (between June 1–Sept. 1) if you suspect a tree has been affected by any of the following pests or diseases:
Residents are notified of the requirements and timeline for removal of diseased/infested trees on their private property.
ReLeaf Grant program
The City of Minnetonka is using a ReLeaf grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to combat EAB. Part of the ReLeaf grant includes funding assistance to qualifying property owners for ash tree removal and replacement. The grant will cover 100 percent of the costs of tree removal when the:
- Tree(s) poses a risk to a target, such as a house, shed or driveway; and
- The property owner income is at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI)
Learn more on the emerald ash borer page.
