Tree City USA

Tree City USA Distinction

Since 1991, the City of Owatonna has been recognized as a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Through cooperation with citizen members on the Shade Tree Commission Board and the Public Works Department, the quality of the City’s urban forest has continually undergone beautification and enhancement. The City currently maintains approximately 4,900 boulevard trees that provide shade, aesthetics, storm water benefits, and character to our neighborhoods, streets, and parks.

The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America. Participating communities have demonstrated a commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. Together the more than 3,600 Tree City USA communities serve as home to more than 135 million Americans. Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management. 

Standards

There are four standards that a community must meet in order to achieve the Tree City USA designation. They include:

• Maintaining a tree board or department
• Commit at least $2 per capita annually on urban forestry
• Celebrating Arbor Day
• Having a tree ordinance

The City of Owatonna has been a member of the Tree City USA since the ordinances were written in 1991. The City of Owatonna Tree Ordinances involve:

• Boulevard Tree Plantings
• Boulevard Tree Removal
• Tree Trimming
• Hazardous Plantings on Private Property
• Shade Tree Pests Declared and Control

City of Owatonna Tree Ordinance