City of Minnetonka

The city of Minnetonka’s cost share program is a program designed to offset the removal cost(s) of diseased trees and any stumps along the right-of-way (road edge) portion of your property.

Minnetonka residents who have had a diseased tree(s) marked for removal by a city of Minnetonka tree inspector on the right-of-way portion of their property are eligible for tree and stump removal dollars.

Minnetonka residents who have had a dead, hazard, or storm damaged tree marked and removed by the city on the right-of-way portion of their property are eligible for cost share dollars to offset stump removal costs.

Residents are given three options for tree/stump removal and allocation of cost share funds. You may choose Minnetonka’s contractor at the city’s contracted rate, hire your own contractor, or do the work yourself. In order to be considered for the cost share program, you are required to notify the city within 14 days of your plans for tree removal along the right-of-way and whether or not you want the city to grind the stump. You must send back the prepaid postcard left at your door with the initial notification or call our office at 952.988.8421.

• If you choose the city’s contractor to remove the tree(s), they will be removed at the city of Minnetonka’s contracted rate. You are responsible for half of this cost. The city will invoice you upon completion of the work with payment due within 30 days of receipt.
  • If the payment is not remitted in 30 days, the remaining removal and disposal cost, plus an administrative fee will be levied as a special assessment to be collected with your property tax.
  • The balance is then paid in equal installments spread over a five-year period, with annual interest on the unpaid balance.
• If you choose your own contractor, the city will reimburse half of your expense up to a maximum of half of the city’s contracted rate.
  • If you choose to hire your own contractor you are responsible for payment in full to your contractor. The city will make reimbursements upon the submission of your contractor’s invoice, receipt showing payment, and once the site has been inspected to confirm removal. If the receipt is not itemized, it will delay your reimbursement. Forestry staff will remit reimbursement requests once per month.
• If you choose to do the work yourself you are not eligible for cost share dollars. The city will not reimburse you for your time, materials, or expenses.

The city does not require residents to remove stumps after diseased or dead/hazardous trees are removed from the right-of-way. If you elect to have your stump ground, you may be eligible for cost share dollars. Cost share dollars are available for stump removal on all trees located in the right-of-way marked for removal by the city and given the site is a candidate for removal. The city does not grind stumps on steep slopes, wooded areas, or wetland edges.

• Payments for stump removal completed by the city’s contractor are due in advance of the work. If you had a diseased tree, your removal estimate was included with your initial notification. The invoice and additional information on where to mail payments will follow via mail when tree removal is complete.
• If you choose your own contractor, the city will reimburse half of your expense up to a maximum of half of the city’s contracted rate.
  • If you choose to hire your own contractor you are responsible for payment in full to your contractor. The city will make reimbursements upon the submission of your contractor’s invoice, receipt showing payment, and once the site has been inspected to confirm removal.

Your paperwork will be processed for reimbursement upon submission of your contractor’s invoice, receipt showing payment, and once the site has been inspected to confirm removal. The city will remit reimbursement requests once per month.

Acting promptly ensures the best disease control. The city requires notification of plans for removal to ensure that the removal takes place. The elm trees/wood are a nuisance per Minnesota Statues and Minnetonka city ordinance 840.020 and must be removed within 30 days. The sooner you notify the city, the sooner we can issue a work order should you choose the city’s contractor.

Failure to notify the city of your plans for removal within 14 days will be considered non-complaint. At this time, a non-compliant removal will take place by the city’s contractor at the city of Minnetonka’s contracted rate. You will be invoiced for half the cost of removal upon completion of the work.

• You will have 30 days to remit payment upon being invoiced.
• If the payment is not remitted in 30 days, the remaining removal and disposal cost, plus an administrative fee will be levied as a special assessment to be collected with your property tax.

Contact the city forester in the natural resources division at 952.988.8421.