Fayette Compensatory Payments ordinance (§ 225.580)

A. No person shall remove any public tree without first obtaining a permit from the Community Forest Manager, and must replace such tree with a tree or trees of equivalent dollar value in the vicinity of the removed tree. The value of trees shall be determined by the Community Forest Manager in accordance with the edition of a Guide to the Professional Evaluation of Landscape Trees, Specimen Shrubs and Evergreen published by the International Society of Arboriculture, current at the time of such removal shall occur. It shall be the responsibility of the City Administrator to enforce the above standards.

B. If no suitable location exists in the vicinity of the tree removed or if the replacement is of lesser value, the person causing the tree to be removed shall make a compensatory payment to the City equal to the difference in value between the tree removed and any replacement tree. Such compensatory payment shall be paid into a fund established by the Finance Director and used solely for the purpose of enhancing the community forest.