Most stump grinding on private property in Cedar Rapids doesn't require a permit, but work in the right-of-way has specific rules you need to follow.
If the stump is on your private property behind your property line, you generally don't need a city permit to grind it out. You can hire any contractor you want and grind the stump as deep as needed for your plans.
Before any digging or grinding, call Iowa ONE-CALL at 1-800-292-8989 to locate underground utilities. This is required by law and protects you from hitting electric, gas, water, or fiber optic lines that might run through your yard. The service is free and utility companies will mark lines within a few days of your call.
The right-of-way is the grassy strip between the street curb and the sidewalk. In Cedar Rapids this land is owned by the city but maintained by the property owner. If you have a stump in the right-of-way, different rules apply.
The City of Cedar Rapids has been grinding right-of-way stumps left from the August 2020 derecho at no cost to residents. City crews grind these stumps about 8 inches below grade, remove the wood chips, backfill with topsoil, and seed the area. If your neighborhood hasn't been completed yet, you can check the progress map on the city website or contact the Forestry Division at forestry@cedar-rapids.org or 319-286-5747.
If you want to hire a private contractor to grind a right-of-way stump at your own expense instead of waiting for city crews, you need to complete an application for a permit first. The permit process is the same as the replanting permit, except you note the reason for work as stump grinding. Stumps in the right-of-way must be ground to 6 to 8 inches below grade. If you plan to plant a new tree in the exact same spot, the stump must be ground 18 to 24 inches deep to fully remove the root system.
Any contractor you hire to work in the Cedar Rapids right-of-way needs proper credentials. According to city requirements, contractors performing tree work must have a current ISA Certified Arborist on staff, carry workers compensation insurance meeting Iowa law, and have $1,000,000 in general liability insurance with the city as additional insured, $1,000,000 in auto liability, and a $10,000 bond for working in public streets and property.
Before grinding starts, residents need to remove rocks, bricks, stone planters, and decorative items from around the stump. The city ordinance doesn't allow ornamental plantings in the right-of-way, and obstacles prevent safe access and keep the stump from being ground to the proper depth.
If you want to plant a new tree in the right-of-way after stump grinding, you need a separate planting permit. Trees planted in the right-of-way must be selected from the city's approved tree list and be at least 1 inch in trunk diameter measured 4.5 feet above grade.
New trees should be planted 3 to 5 feet to one side of where the old stump was ground by city crews. This avoids the remaining root system. If you had the stump ground 18 to 24 inches deep by a private contractor, you can replant in the same location. Contact the Forestry Division for the current approved tree list and to confirm permit requirements, since rules can change.
For questions about right-of-way stumps, permits, or city tree programs, contact the Cedar Rapids Forestry Division. You can email forestry@cedar-rapids.org, call 319-286-5747, or submit a request through the My CR system on the city website. The office is located at the City Services Center at 500 15th Ave SW and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Forestry Division is part of the Public Works Department and handles all street tree issues including removal, trimming, and stump grinding in the right-of-way. They can tell you if your area has been scheduled for stump grinding or if a permit is required for the work you're planning.
Also in our network: Cedar Rapids Deck Permits: Rules and Requirements 2024, Cedar Rapids Drainage Permits: Rules and Requirements.
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