Landscaping Rules in Somerville, MA (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Somerville, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Pruning a public shade tree or city tree in Somerville requires a free permit from the tree warden under Sec. 12-105.2, and the actual cutting must be done by a certified arborist meeting the tree warden's specifications.
Somerville Public Shade Tree Pruning Permit
Some RestrictionsSomerville Code of Ordinances Sec. 12-105.2
Permit required: A person may not prune a public shade tree or city tree without a pruning permit from the tree warden. An application must be made in writing on a form specified by the tree warden. The tree warden or their designee shall review an application for a pruning permit and respond no later than thirty business days after submission of a completed application. There shall be no fee o...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a "significant tree" (8+ inch DBH, or an invasive species other than Tree of Heaven at 24+ inches) from private property in Somerville requires a free permit from the tree warden under Sec. 12-112, plus replacement plantings or a payment in lieu.
Somerville Private Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSomerville Code of Ordinances Sec. 12-112
Permit required: A person may not remove a significant tree from private property without a tree permit from the tree warden. A property owner or their agent may apply for a tree permit on a form specified by the tree warden. The tree warden, or their designee, shall review applications for tree permits in accordance with the provisions of this article... and shall complete the review of an app...
Rainwater Harvesting
Somerville's Green Score standard for new construction and major renovations awards a bonus credit toward the required landscape performance score when at least half of a site's irrigation comes from harvested rainwater. Table 10.4.2 lists '50% of irrigation is harvested rainwater' as a 0.1 multiplier bonus under §10.4.5.b.
Somerville Rainwater Harvesting Green Score Credit
Light RestrictionsSomerville Zoning Ordinance §10.4.5.b, Table 10.4.2 (Green Score Bonuses)
b. Bonuses i. Review Boards may establish additional bonuses than those listed on Table 10.4.2 to achieve other city policy objectives based on the recommendations of the Director of Public Space & Urban Forestry. Table 10.4.2 Green Score Bonuses Credit Multiplier Bonus Credits Publicly visible landscape 0.1 Native species 0.1 High value species 0.1 50% of irrigation is harvested rainwater 0.1 ...
Native Plants
Somerville's Native Planting Ordinance requires the city itself, not private property owners, to favor native species and drop invasive plants when it plants riparian areas, the community path, plazas, streetscapes and city parks. Existing trees and plants, and anything planted on private land, are unaffected.
Somerville Native Planting Ordinance Rules
Light RestrictionsSomerville, MA Code of Ordinances §§ 12-175, 12-176
Sec. 12-175. Applicability. The terms and provisions of this article shall be a minimum standard and shall only apply to all new trees and other plants planted by the city, or by a third-party on behalf of the city. Existing trees and other plants shall remain unaffected by this article. Sec. 12-176. Invasive plants forbidden. The city shall not include any invasive plant in any city plantings.
Artificial Turf
Somerville bans artificial turf and artificial plants from required landscaped areas. Zoning Ordinance §10.3.5.h.v prohibits both outright, with a narrow exception for civic-space athletic fields whose intensity of use and soil compaction prevent real turf grass from establishing, and for paving areas that grass paving cannot serve.
Somerville Artificial Turf Ban in Yards
Heavy RestrictionsSomerville Zoning Ordinance §10.3.5.h.v (Site Landscaping Restrictions)
h. Restrictions i. Invasive plant species to the State of Massachusetts are prohibited and must be removed if already existing on a development site. ... v. Artificial plants and artificial turf are prohibited, excluding civic space athletic fields that are subject to intense use and soil compaction that prohibits the establishment of turf grass and areas where paving or grass paving systems wi...