Tree Permits and Regulations
In order to preserve and care for our urban forest, the City has established a set of guidelines. We have created this section to help our residents have easy access to all the etiquettes they must follow to protect our urban forest trees.
The Tree Permit section explains the process for securing a Tree Removal Permits, Tree Impact Assessment, or Tree Protection Plan Permit.
The Other City Tree Regulations section lays out vines on trees, hazardous trees, sidewalk and roadway clearance, in relation to the Takoma Park municipal code.
The State and County Tree Regulations section clarifies Maryland and Montgomery County’s Tree Regulations.
The Tree Ownership, Rights to Prune, and Easements sections explains how to determine ownership of a tree, pruning branches over hanging a property line, and what easements are.
Table of Contents for Urban Forestry
Definition of an Urban Forest Tree
An urban forest tree is a tree in the City which:
- Has a trunk measuring 24 inches or more in circumference (7 and 5/8 inches diameter) at 4.5 feet above ground level; or
- Is required to be planted or maintained, pursuant to governmental order, agreement, stipulation, covenant, easement, or a tree protection plan, or as a condition of issuance of a tree permit; or
- Is planted with government funding or under a government program
See here for helpful information on how to measure the trunk size of a tree: How to Measure a Tree
