Somerville's Tree Protection: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles tree protection a little differently. In Somerville, Massachusetts, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Parkway Planting

Somerville's Native Planting Ordinance requires at least half of the street trees the city plants each year to be native species, with the goal of raising that share over time. The rule applies to every new city planting on public ways, not just parks.

Key details: Governing ordinance: Somerville Native Planting Ordinance, Ord. No. 2021-05. Street tree native minimum: 50% of trees planted annually. Park planting native minimum: 75% of new plantings annually. Effective date: March 25, 2021. Applies to: New city plantings only, not existing trees.

The ordinance is a planting-standard directive aimed at city departments and contractors performing city plantings, not a per-resident permit scheme, so it carries no individual fine schedule. Noncompliance is addressed administratively: the senior urban forestry and landscape planner and DPW are responsible for meeting the native-percentage targets in their annual planting programs, and use of an invasive species on the prohibited list in any city planting is a straightforward ordinance violation subject to the city's general enforcement authority.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Somerville's 2025 tree ordinance protects "significant trees" (8+ inch DBH natives, or 24+ inch DBH invasive species other than Tree of Heaven) during any permitted construction. Contractors must file a tree protection plan and install approved barriers under Sec. 12-111.1.

Key details: Governing section: Code of Ordinances Sec. 12-111.1. Protected size (native): 8 inches DBH or more. Protected size (invasive): 24 inches DBH or more. Fine per offense: $300.00 (Sec. 12-100 et seq.). Enacted: Ord. No. 2025-05, 5/8/2025.

Enforcement of the tree preservation article, including Sec. 12-111.1, runs through the tree warden or a deputy tree warden using noncriminal disposition under M.G.L. c. 40, Sec. 21D. The citywide penalty schedule lists Tree Preservation (Sec. 12-100 et seq.) violations at $300.00 for each offense, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense, enforced by the inspectional services division, tree warden, and tree warden deputies.

The Bottom Line

Somerville'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 Somerville is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Somerville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.