Plant a Tree

Grow with Us: Planting Trees in Missoula's Public Spaces

The Forestry Division performs many tree-planting functions on public lands. Trees planted within the public right-of-way require a signed permit from the Urban Forestry Division. 

• Tree Planting Permit Application
• Approved Street Tree List
• Technical Report: Tree Planting Methods In Urbanized Environments  
• Planting Guidelines Brochure
• Submit planting permit requests to the Urban Forestry Division at citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us at least five working days before the requested planting.
• Please do not plant vegetation in the City right-of-way without an approved planting permit.

Landscape Architects and Developers

A signed permit is necessary for all new commercial and residential construction projects before the work is completed and the final Certificate of Occupancy is issued. It is one of the requirements on the building permit checklist. To proceed, please complete the Tree Planting Permit Application (PDF) and submit it to citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us for review and approval. 

When trees are installed according to the approved landscape plan or the approved landscape plan for a commercial build is uploaded, the Urban Forestry Division will schedule an inspection to finalize the boulevard landscaping conditions for the final Certificate of Occupancy.

Before submitting your permit application, please review these documents:

• Parks and Recreation Design Manual, 2018 Edition, for Public Right-of-Ways, Greenways and Other Public Recreation Facilities
• Approved Street Tree List
• Technical Report: Tree Planting Methods In Urbanized Environments 
• Planting Guidelines Brochure

 Property Owner Resources

Property owners have a few options for planting a tree in the boulevard adjacent to their home. The Urban Forestry Division accepts new tree requests for its annual spring tree planting at citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us. The request list fills quickly, and depending on tree availability, requests may be planted the following year. 

Priority sites for the City's annual spring planting program:

1. Sites where public trees have been removed and do not conflict with utilities or infrastructure, and the adjacent homeowner has completed a New Tree Care Agreement. 
2. Missoula's Invest Health Neighborhoods, Northside, Westside, River Road and Franklin to the Fort neighborhoods.
3. Open Space bond and reforestation plantings. 

Property owners may also apply for a boulevard tree planting permit to plant a tree themselves. To start the process, please email the Urban Forestry Division at citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us to trigger a boulevard inspection to ensure the site has adequate soil volume and growing conditions to support a new tree.

Next, the property owner should complete the Tree Planting Permit Application (PDF) with a species chosen from the Approved Street Tree List*. The property owner will incur the planting costs, with the understanding that the tree is publicly owned and will be maintained under the Urban Forestry program. 

 Do you have questions or concerns? Please email us at citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us or phone the Urban Forestry Tree Inspector at (406) 552-6355.