How Allentown Handles Tree Protection: A Practical Guide

Allentown maintains 134 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with tree protection. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Allentown falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Parkway Planting

Allentown's land development code requires street trees along the streetscape's tree zone under § 350-14, with the Shade Tree Commission controlling placement, and sets fixed dimensions for downtown tree wells, including 18-inch fencing or four-by-six-inch curbing where a well is not planted directly in a parkway.

Key details: Governing section: Ch. 350, § 350-14, Street trees. Applies to: All buildings/sites in all zones. Placement authority: Shade Tree Commission (Ch. 597). Downtown well fence height: 18 inches above sidewalk. Downtown well curb size: ~4 in. wide, 6 in. high.

Street tree and tree-well compliance is enforced through the City's land development and streetscape plan review under Chapter 350, with the Shade Tree Commission holding authority to modify placement and specifications under § 597-2. A development plan that omits required street trees from the tree zone, fails to provide a tree well where the sidewalk meets the curb, or installs a downtown tree well without an approved grate, fence, curb, or seat wall configuration can be rejected at plan review, and construction may not proceed to final approval until the streetscape design is corrected to meet §§ 350-13 and 350-14.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Any city-owned or right-of-way tree classified as historic, a champion of its species, or a planted remembrance tree must be preserved. Removal needs a permit and is granted only after every remedial arboriculture option under ISA ANSI A300 standards has been exhausted.

Key details: Governing law: City Code Ch. 597, Art. I, Ord. No. 15277 (2016). Protected categories: Historic, champion, remembrance trees. Removal standard: Only after ISA ANSI A300 remedies exhausted. Unauthorized removal penalty: Inch-for-inch diameter replacement. Default diameter if unmeasurable: 24 inches.

Unauthorized removal of a protected historic, champion or remembrance tree triggers mandatory inch-for-one-inch replacement under § 597-5A(6)(d), calculated from the diameter of the removed tree measured 4.5 feet above grade. Willful damage to a protected tree also exposes the responsible person to liability for the tree's appraised value, removal and stump costs, replacement costs and required aftercare under § 597-5D, on top of the article's general penalties.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Allentown actively enforces its heritage & protected trees requirements.

The Bottom Line

Allentown's tree protection rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Allentown is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Allentown can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.