Applications open for tree removal and replacement

22 Oct 2024

Update: Applications are paused. Thank you to all that have applied. In the coming months we will be piloting different strategies to increase access to the program. Please contact us directly at treehelp@hennepin.us(External link) to share feedback on the process.


We are excited to announce that the tree removal and replacement program has opened applications. The number of applications accepted this round will be limited to provide time for tree inspectors and forestry staff to process submissions and conduct inspections. If you reach a screen indicating the application is paused, we have reached capacity for this period.

The application process is 100% online and available in English, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish. In the coming months we will be piloting different strategies to increase access to the program. Please contact us directly at treehelp@hennepin.us(External link) to share feedback on the process or to request a printed application.

Subscribe for updates(External link) to receive an email when the application opens next.

Minneapolis residents

Homeowners with low incomes in Minneapolis with a condemned tree that needs to be removed should refer to the City of Minneapolis Condemned tree assistance website.(External link) Minneapolis residents who have not received a condemnation letter but do have an ash tree or significantly diseased tree should contact the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Forestry Department at forestry@minneapolisparks.org(External link) or by calling 612-313-7710 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Removals in Minneapolis are being handled by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board or by the City’s Regulatory Services department. If residents have had a tree condemned and submit a Hennepin County form, their address will be shared with Minneapolis, and they will be in touch with next steps.

Program requirements and benefits

To qualify for the program, your tree(s) must be ash, diseased oak or diseased elm. This program requires that each tree removed be replaced with another tree. The newly planted trees provide many benefits, including:

  • Providing shade and cooling your neighborhood
  • Increasing property values
  • Improving air quality
  • Capturing and filtering stormwater
  • Providing habitat for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.

Applicants must be homeowners in Hennepin County living at their property and meet income requirements.

Interpreter assistance

If you require interpretation assistance to complete the application, call the program hotline at 612-541-1949 and state the language you need assistance in. Program staff will then return your call with an interpreter to assist.

Updates and questions

Find answers to frequently asked questions. Subscribe to the urban and community forestry newsletter(External link) to receive email updates. Submit questions to treehelp@hennepin.us(External link) or call the program hotline at 612-541-1949.

Background on the funding and program

Hennepin County was awarded a $10 million Urban and Community Forestry grant(External link) from the U.S. Forest Service to remove diseased trees, plant trees, educate residents, and support businesses and workforce development. The project will improve resilience to climate change, pests, storms, and extreme heat events.

With the grant funding, Hennepin County forestry is helping homeowners with low incomes get trees removed and replaced from their properties. County foresters are partnering with residents to increase the potential benefit of trees in their neighborhoods. This funding addresses a significant need identified by community members as the emerald ash borer has swept through the county.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this organization is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov(External link).

Hennepin County is an equal opportunity provider.

Funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service.

<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en-US.projects.blog_posts.show.load_comment_text">Load Comment Text</span>