Examples of jurisdictions with minimum tree soil volume requirements

Example minimum tree soil volume requirements by jurisdiction
Jurisdiction	Minimum tree soil volume
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada	Large stature trees (≥24” diameter at maturity): 1589 cubic feet (c.f) for single trees; 1059 c.f. for trees sharing soil volume; 530 c.f. allowable shared soil volume Medium Stature trees: (≥16” diameter at maturity): 989 c.f for single trees; 653 c.f. for trees sharing soil volume; 336 c.f. allowable shared soil volume Small stature trees: (≥8” diameter at maturity): 600 c.f for single trees; 389 c.f. for trees sharing soil volume; 212 c.f. allowable shared soil volume For all boulevards where trees are planted, the minimal soil depth will be 450 mm (17.7 inches), and all other soil habitat zones (public/private front lawn, cul de sac, active parkland) will be 900 mm. Where soil habitat zones (e.g. boulevard and front lawn) must be connected to achieve the required soil volumes, root pathways or Silva Cells will be used to provide a functional connection between the two areas.
Emeryville, CA	600 cubic feet (17 cubic meters) for a small tree 900 cubic feet (25 cubic meters) for a medium tree 1200 cubic feet (34 cubic meters) for a large tree 50 percent credit for planting areas under adjacent paving using 100% planting soil with Silva Cell or similar products.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada	30 cubic meters (1059 cubic feet) of soil per tree 20 cubic meters(706 cubic feet) per tree for trees with shared volume Minimum 0.9 m (3’) and maximum 1.2 m (4’) depth
Oakville, Ontario, Canada; Burnaby MetroTown Development Area, British Columbia, Canada	30 cubic meters (1059 cubic feet) of soil per tree 15 cubic meters (530 cubic feet) per tree for trees with shared volume
North Vancouver Lonsdale Street Guideline, British Columbia, Canada	15 cubic meters (530 cubic feet) per tree for trees with shared volume
Calgary, Alberta, Canada	Provide for a volume of soil suitable for a 25 year tree life span, this is approximately 14 cubic meters [494 c.f.) for a single tree. An additional 7 cubic meters [247 c.f.] of soil is required for each additional tree in interconnected plantings
Langley, British Columbia, Canada	Zoning Bylaw requires 10 cubic meters (353 cubic feet) of growing medium per tree planted in hard surfaced parking lots on private developments. Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw requires 10 cubic meters (353 cubic feet) of growing medium per tree (generally street trees) growing medium defined as screened, weed free, composted soil mixed according to BC Landscape Standards for the intended use and confirmed with a soil analysis report. In hardscape environments, street trees are expected to be planted using structured supports such as Silva Cell to achieve the expected growing volume
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Tree Planting Details and Specifications, Downtown Area and Regional Streets	8.5 cubic meters (300 c.f.) to 12.75 cubic meters (450 c.f.) of soil per tree 17.0 cu.m. (600 c.f.) to 25.5 cubic meters (900 c.f.) for 2 trees with shared volume Optimal planting medium depth 900 mm (36in.). Minimum planting medium depth of 760 mm (30in.) will be accepted where 900 mm is not feasible.
Denver, CO	Internal (city) standard: 750 c.f. of soil volume per tree
University of Florida Extension Recommendations (Urban Design for a Wind Resistant Forest)	Small trees (shorter than 30’) = 10’x10’x3’ = 300 c.f. Medium trees (Less than 50’ height or spread) = 1,200 c.f. Large trees (Greater than 50’ height or spread) = 2,700 c.f.
Minnesota B3 Guidelines	Small trees (e.g. serviceberry) = 400 c.f. Medium trees (e.g. ironwood) = 800 c.f. Large trees (e.g. hackberry) = 1,200 c.f. If using structural soils, total soil volumes above need to be multiplied by 5 to obtain equivalent volume of soil useable by the tree.

Download an Excel spreadsheet containing tree assessment tables found in the stormwater manual.