Shade SLP
UPDATE: The City of St. Louis Park’s commercial tree planting program, ShadeSLP, has been suspended for 2026 as funds have been fully allocated for the year. If you have already had one or more trees planted this year but have not submitted your reimbursement application, you must do so by July 12.
Through the Shade SLP cost share tree planting program, commercial and nonprofit property owners can hire any vendor to plant up to three qualifying trees(PDF, 286KB) on their property, and the city will share the cost.
This program was created in an effort to increase the tree canopy in the city and commercial areas.
Why increase the city's tree canopy?
Trees filter air pollutants, cool the community, provide habitat for local wildlife, manage stormwater runoff, increase property values, reduce home energy costs and capture carbon dioxide from the air, helping stabilize our climate. By planting and caring for trees on your commercial property, you grow the tree canopy and ensure new trees provide benefits for generations to come.
Eligibility requirements
- Trees must be included in the St. Louis Park tree list(PDF, 286KB) in order to qualify.
- Projects applying for the cost share program must be an existing commercial, multifamily (five or more units), industrial or nonprofit property located within the City of St. Louis Park.
- Applications limited to three trees per property.
- Applicant must be the property owner.
Cost-sharing amounts
Discounts are available based on property location and ash tree removal. To see whether discounts are available to you, type your property address in our interactive cost-share map to see if your property is in an Environmental Justice Priority area or if you have had an ash tree removed from your property after Jan. 1, 2020.
- Base rate – 30% up to $200 per tree
- Any property in the City of St. Louis Park that fulfills the program eligibility criteria.
- Environmental Justice priority planting area rate – 85% up to $550 per tree
- Any commercial property in the City of St. Louis Park that fulfills the program eligibility criteria and is within the priority planting area (where high surface temps and low tree canopy overlap).
- Tree replacement rate – 50% up to $325 per tree
- Any property in the City of St. Louis Park that fulfills the program eligibility criteria and has had an ash tree removed due to the emerald ash borer after Jan. 1, 2020.
How to apply
NOTICE: The City of St. Louis Park’s commercial tree planting program, ShadeSLP, has been suspended for 2026 as funds have been fully allocated for the year. If you have already had one or more trees planted this year but have not submitted your reimbursement application, you must do so by July 12.
Procedures
- City of St. Louis Park natural resources staff will inspect the tree(s) for proper planting according to MnDNR guidelines. It will be the responsibility of the landowner to have any unacceptable work corrected by the landscaper. Property owner agrees that the tree must be maintained alive for three years.
- If the tree(s) do not meet planting standards upon staff inspection, a partial reimbursement will be made, and the remaining cost share amount will be held until the planting(s) are corrected.
- Staff will verify that property boundaries are within the priority planting area for applicants seeking the priority planting area cost share match, and/or that any trees purchased under the tree replacement rate are replacing trees removed due to emerald ash borer after Jan. 1, 2020.
Rules
- Trees must be included in the St. Louis Park tree list(PDF, 286KB) in order to qualify.
- The City of St. Louis Park reserves the right to revoke the funding if the property owner or contractor violates program rules and procedures.
- City of St. Louis Park natural resources staff will inspect the tree(s) for proper planting according to MnDNR guidelines. It will be the responsibility of the landowner to have any unacceptable work corrected by the landscaper. Property owner agrees that the tree must be maintained alive for three years.
- Funds are allocated based on what's approved in the application. In the event the project size increases or decreases, the applicant is responsible for working with their contractor(s) to submit an updated application to the city. Any additional cost share funds must be approved by the city's program administrator.
- Check with your tax preparer to find out if there are tax implications of receiving cost share funds.
- The City of St. Louis Park can't recommend specific contractors.
- The City of St. Louis Park can't guarantee or warranty any trees.
- All tree care and tree trimming companies doing business in Minnesota are required to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. To verify the contractor's registration on the state tree care registry, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's website or call MDA at 651.201.6611.
- The applicant is responsible for ensuring that product purchases, equipment purchases, installation or other work proposed have been completed satisfactorily before paying the contractor(s).
- Staff will verify that property boundaries are within the priority planting area for applicants seeking the priority planting area cost share match, and/or that any trees purchased under the tree replacement rate are replacing trees removed due to emerald ash borer after Jan. 1, 2020.