Street Trees | City of Bloomington, Indiana

Page last updated on April 27, 2026 at 11:05 am

Trees on Public Property

Planting, maintenance, and removal of trees on city property, in the public right of way, and along city streets is provided by the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department's Urban Forestry Program.

Tree Assistance Program

Eligible homeowners can apply for financial assistance for tree removal, pruning, and planting on land inside Bloomington's city limits. Learn about the Tree Assistance Program.

Urban Forestry in the News

Parks and Recreation Awarded Grant to Address Ash Tree Health and Long-Term Impacts. Read the news release.
2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest Commemorates 40 Years of Tree Stewardship in Bloomington. Read the news release.
Bloomington Recognized by The Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City of the World. Read the news release.
City of Bloomington's Switchyard Park Recognized for Outstanding Urban Forestry, Native Landscaping. Read the news release.

Indiana's First Tree City USA

Bloomington was recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 1984 as Indiana's first Tree City USA. Learn more about the Tree City USA program. Bloomington has each year since 1984 successfully met all the criteria necessary to keep its Tree City USA designation: a tree board or department; a tree care ordinance; a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita; and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

TreeKeeper: See live information about public trees and their benefits

Report a Hazardous Tree

Find a Certified Arborist

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why do we plant trees?

Trees have so many different direct and indirect benefits, and in private tree planting I think the focus is usually on a singular direct benefit, shade, fruit, aethstetic etc. Whereas for us as a city we look at trees as a vital piece of infrastructure that goes towards benefitting the greater common good. We plant trees as a tool to combat some of our bigger threats in climate change, and heat island effects but also those ideas that maybe go unnoticed, like that intrinsic value of a tree lined street that greets you on your way home after work, or the shaded playground near the house that the kids spend every minute they can at. Giving local insects, birds, squirrels and several thousand other species of critters a home, a food source and a means to survive the urban environment. To some a tree is "just" a tree, but to us as a city and a community they are so much more.

How do I know if a tree is a City tree?

Trees located on City properties, such as Parks properties, are City trees. Many trees located along the street in tree lawns or tree planting strips are City trees, along with trees within the public right of way in areas without designated tree lawns. Visit the TreeKeeper website (external site) for an inventory of Street trees and some Park trees to determine if a tree is a City tree.

I want to remove or prune a street tree in front of my home, what do I do?

Anyone wanting to plant, cut, remove, or treat a City tree shall submit a Tree Work Permit. Email Haskell Smith ([email protected]) to request a Tree Work Permit application, or call 812-349-3716.

Help! I am worried the tree in front of my home is dead, what do I do?

If the tree is a City tree, please either submit a uReport (https://bloomington.in.gov/ureport) reporting the potentially hazardous tree, or contact the Urban Forester, Haskell Smith, at 812-349-3716, to report the tree. Tree removal requests will be reviewed by the Urban Forestry staff, with the decision to remove a given tree based on the condition of the tree and any other relevant information.

I'm worried about a tree on my private property, can you look at it?

The Urban Forestry staff does not manage trees on private property, and can not provide care advice on private property trees. Contact a Certified Arborist (external site) to obtain tree care advice and services for private property trees.

There is a tree growing up into the utility wires, who should I call?

Contact Duke Energy (external site) or call 80-521-2232.

For more information about:

purchasing a Memorial or Honorary Tree
making a donation to the Bloomington Tree Fund
Bloomington's urban forest
hazardous tree report or tree problem in a city park

email Haskell Smith ([email protected]) or call 812-349-3716.

Memorial/Honorary Tree and Bench Programs

Remember a loved one or honor someone with a tree or bench in one of Bloomington's city parks.

Tree Commission

The Tree Commission assists with urban forestry and public education on the care of trees

Bloomington Urban Forestry Plan

A plan for the management of city-owned trees.

Bloomington Tree Care Manual

A manual for the care of urban trees, developed by the Bloomington Tree Commission.