Do You Need a Permit to
Remove a Tree in Wentzville?

When You Do and Don't Need a Permit

The most common question we get from Wentzville homeowners before scheduling a removal is whether they need to deal with city hall first. In the vast majority of residential jobs, the answer is no — here's how to tell which category your situation falls into.

Wentzville's Tree Ordinance — What It Actually Covers

Wentzville adopted its tree ordinance in 2009 to govern the city's public community forest — the trees on city-owned property including street trees, park trees, and other trees in public spaces. The ordinance establishes a Tree Board, defines responsibilities for the Community Forest Manager, and sets rules for planting, maintenance, and removal of trees on city property.

Critically, Wentzville's ordinance defines tree ownership clearly: ownership is determined by where the trunk touches the ground. A tree with its trunk entirely on your property is your tree. A tree on city property is the city's tree. This matters because the Wentzville Board of Aldermen has made clear that trees planted in the city right-of-way — even if homeowners planted them — are the homeowner's liability for maintenance, but cannot be removed without city involvement.

The Right-of-Way Question

The strip of land between the sidewalk and the street — sometimes called the "tree lawn," "parkway," or "hell strip" — is city-owned right-of-way in Wentzville. Trees in this area are a known point of confusion. The Wentzville Board of Aldermen has specifically addressed this: trees should not be planted in the right-of-way, and existing right-of-way trees cannot be removed without contacting the city. If you're unsure whether a tree is on your property or in the right-of-way, call us — we assess this during every free estimate visit.

City of Wentzville Contact Information

If you need to contact the City of Wentzville about a tree in the right-of-way, a permit question for new construction, or anything related to trees on city property, here's who to call:

What About Trees on the Property Line?

Boundary trees — trees whose trunks straddle the property line between two properties — are jointly owned by both neighbors under Missouri law. Neither neighbor can remove a boundary tree without the other's consent. This is one of the more common neighbor disputes in residential tree situations.

The practical rules in Missouri are:

• Your tree, your neighbor's branches: You can trim branches from your neighbor's tree that overhang your property — but only back to the property line, and without damaging the tree's overall health.
• Trunk on the line = joint ownership: If the trunk visibly straddles the property line, both neighbors must agree to removal. Document this agreement in writing.
• Trunk entirely on your lot: Your tree, your decision. No neighbor consent required, though notifying them before work begins is always a good practice.
• Root damage to neighbor's property: Missouri courts generally hold that a tree owner is responsible for taking reasonable steps to address roots causing documented damage to a neighbor's property.

If you're in a disputed boundary tree situation, we recommend consulting with a real estate attorney before scheduling removal. We can assess the tree and provide documentation, but we won't remove a tree where ownership is actively disputed without appropriate documentation from the property owner.

Frequently Asked Questions