Tree Protection in Erie, PA (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for Erie, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal Permits
Tree-removal permitting in the City of Erie is administered by the City Arborist under Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee). No person may plant, maintain, remove, or disturb a tree or shrub on a street or municipal property without filing an application and procuring a permit from the City Arborist. Article 165.07(c) imposes a $50 administrative fee for each tree-removal application, waivable for City-confirmed hazardous removals. Maximum fine for violation is $300, with default of payment up to 30 days' imprisonment.
Erie PA Tree Removal Permits and Urban Forest Committee
Some RestrictionsHeritage & Protected Trees
Erie does not maintain a dedicated public heritage-tree registry in its Codified Ordinances, but Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee) uniformly protects all trees and shrubs on streets and municipal property — no removal or disturbance without a City Arborist permit. Specimen trees on private property may be designated for protection through conditions on approved land-development plans under the Erie Zoning Ordinance. Notable mature-tree resources include Frontier Park, Glenwood Park, and the Presque Isle State Park system (PA DCNR-managed).
Erie PA Heritage and Specimen Trees
Some RestrictionsTree Replacement Requirements
Tree replacement in the City of Erie is administered by the City Arborist under Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee) for street and municipal-tree removals and by the Erie Zoning Ordinance for development-site removals. Article 165 expressly contemplates 'Removal and Replacement Permit' procedures at Article 165.07(c), with the $50 administrative fee covering the combined removal-and-replacement application. Replacement species are typically drawn from the City's approved street-tree list — predominantly native or proven non-invasive species suited to northwestern PA.