Neighbor News
Housing First Minnesota Files Lawsuit Over Edina’s Tree Fees
Housing First Minnesota has filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County over the City of Edina's tree fees.
Housing First Minnesota has filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County over the City of Edina’s tree fees. The suit follows staff engagement and a October 2024 demand letter. The lawsuit alleges that the city has no statutory power to charge these fees relating to tree removal and replacement.
The City of Edina requires that homebuilders and developers include a “tree protection plan” and must pay into escrow 110% of the value the city places upon the tree replacement, which the city can keep permanently if trees are not replaced without any obligation to use this money for tree replacement—essentially making this escrow a fee. The lawsuit alleges that the city has no authority to impose this penalty.
Over the course of three years, the city has amassed nearly one million dollars in the tree fees escrow account, none of which is required to be used to plant replacement trees.
