Tree Protection in Portland, ME (2026)
5 verified tree protection rules for Portland, Maine, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal Permits
Portland Code of Ordinances Chapter 29 (Vegetation) requires a permit from the City Arborist before any person may plant, prune, remove, cut, or otherwise disturb any tree growing on a street, park, or other public place — including the strip between the curb and sidewalk.
Permit Required to Remove Street or Public Trees
Heavy RestrictionsHeritage & Protected Trees
Adopted as Order 26-20/21 effective August 13, 2020, Portland's Heritage Tree Ordinance (Ch. 29) requires a city permit before any healthy Heritage Tree on private property within a designated historic district may be removed or extensively pruned.
Heritage Tree Ordinance — Permit Required in Historic Districts
Heavy RestrictionsTree Replacement Requirements
Portland Code Ch. 29 requires replacement trees when a permitted street tree or Heritage Tree is removed, and allows a fee-in-lieu payment to the City's Tree Trust when on-site replacement is impractical.
Tree Replacement and Tree Trust Fee-in-Lieu
Some RestrictionsProtected Tree Species
Portland's Heritage Tree definition automatically covers any tree on the Maine Big Tree List and any native rare or threatened species, regardless of diameter — and statewide Shoreland Zoning further restricts cutting within 250 ft of protected waters.
Protected Species — Maine Big Tree List and Native Rare/Threatened Trees
Some RestrictionsParkway Planting
Under Portland Code Ch. 29 Sec. 29-18, planting any tree in a street, park, or public place — including the parkway strip between curb and sidewalk — requires a permit from the City Arborist, and species must be selected from the City's recommended/approved street tree list.
Parkway/Street Tree Planting — Permit and Approved Species
Some RestrictionsLooking for Cumberland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Portland city rules.
Tree Protection in Cumberland County →