Tree Protection in Somerville, MA (2026)
2 verified tree protection rules for Somerville, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Somerville Significant Tree Protection
Some RestrictionsSomerville Code of Ordinances Sec. 12-111.1
Duty of care: Upon issuance of a permit by the Inspectional Services Department, Engineering Department, Department of Public Works, Water and Sewer Department, or Parking Department, the permit holder shall take reasonable precautions to protect significant trees and maintain them free from harm from the work associated with the issued permit. Outdoor construction activity requiring a permit s...
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.
Somerville Street Tree Planting Standards
Some RestrictionsSomerville, MA Code of Ordinances Sec. 12-177(c)
All new plantings by the city within the following areas shall consist of native plants only... (c) A minimum of 50 percent of street trees planted by the city each year shall be native plants, with a goal to increase this percentage in subsequent years.