Midwest region
Tree removal and tree care in Illinois
Most Illinois tree emergencies come from summer straight-line winds, like the August 2020 derecho, and winter ice. Emerald ash borer has killed a large share of street ash statewide. There's no statewide permit for removing a tree on a private lot; in Chicago, parkway trees belong to the city.
City guides in Illinois
Many Illinois towns replanted their streets with ash after Dutch elm disease took the elms in the mid-1900s. When emerald ash borer arrived in the 2000s, it hit those same streets hard, and a lot of what's left of the ash canopy is now dead, declining, or kept alive by regular treatment. Dead ash dries out and becomes brittle quickly, which makes removal harder and riskier the longer it waits.
Flat terrain and open farmland let summer thunderstorm winds build without much to slow them down. Derechos and downbursts snap trunks and uproot trees on rain-soaked ground, and they're often the reason for sudden removal calls in suburbs and small towns. Winter adds freezing rain and heavy wet snow, especially on silver maples and other soft-wooded trees.
Reviewed and updated
Derechos, ash borer and ice in Illinois
Derechos and straight-line winds
Long-lived summer windstorms, like August 2020's, break and uproot trees over wide areas in a single afternoon.
Emerald ash borer
Present across the state; untreated ash decline within a few years and become brittle and hazardous once dead.
Ice and heavy wet snow
Freezing rain and early or late snow load limbs; silver maple, Callery pear and willows break first.
Tornadoes
Spring and fall tornadoes, mostly in central and southern Illinois, cause localized but severe tree loss.
Saturated clay soils
Heavy rain on poorly drained clay softens root plates before summer storms.
Chicago metro, central prairie and southern Illinois
- In the Chicago area, parkway trees belong to the city or village, and ash removal and derecho cleanup dominate.
- Across central Illinois, open farmland lets summer winds build; tornadoes and straight-line winds hit towns like Springfield, Peoria and Champaign.
- Southern Illinois has more oaks and hickories and sees ice storms that are rare further north.
Illinois city guides
Chicago's guide covers its parkway trees and the city's role in removing them. Downstate, ice storms, derechos and oak wilt in remnant woodlands are the larger issues, and most smaller cities regulate only parkway trees.
Parkway trees through 311, dead ash and derechos.
Illinois's ash, maples, honeylocusts and oaks
- Green and white ash
- Once common street trees; emerald ash borer has killed most untreated ash
- Silver maple
- Fast-growing and brittle; frequent storm and ice breakage
- Honeylocust
- Common replacement street tree; tough, but watch for weak crotches
- Bur and white oak
- Long-lived natives in older neighborhoods and savanna remnants
- Callery (Bradford) pear
- Splits at narrow forks as it matures
Illinois tree rules
- Removing a tree from a private Illinois yard is governed by your city or village, not the state; most suburbs regulate parkway trees and leave backyard trees to the owner.
- In Chicago, parkway trees (between sidewalk and curb) are city trees. Residents request inspection, trimming or removal through 311, and the Bureau of Forestry decides whether a tree is removed.
Sources (checked 2026-10-01)
Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.
When to do tree work in Illinois
- Winter
- Frozen ground protects lawns from equipment; good time for removals and oak pruning
- Spring
- Avoid pruning oaks April–July (oak wilt is present in Illinois)
- Summer
- Peak season for derechos, downbursts and storm cleanup
Illinois services by risk
Ash killed by emerald ash borer.
Derechos and straight-line winds.
Oaks pruned outside the April–July oak wilt window.
Failing silver maples and pears.
Illinois tree questions
Should I treat or remove my ash tree in Illinois?
A healthy, valuable ash with most of its canopy can often be protected with regular insecticide treatment. An ash with heavy dieback, bark splits or woodpecker damage is usually past saving and gets more brittle each year, so plan its removal before it becomes an emergency.
Who removes a dead tree in the Chicago parkway?
The city. Request an inspection through 311; a Bureau of Forestry arborist decides whether it's removed. Routine removals are scheduled in the winter season, while dead, damaged and emergency trees are handled sooner.
Is oak wilt a concern in Illinois?
Yes. Oak wilt is present in Illinois, so avoid pruning or wounding oaks during the spring and early-summer period when the beetles that spread it are active, and prune in the dormant season instead.
Need tree help in Illinois?
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.