3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
Verified from official government sources
The Urban Forestry Division of DDOT regulates all street trees, and DOEE administers the Urban Forestry Preservation Act for private-property trees. Any tree with a circumference of 44 inches or more (about 14 inches DBH) is a 'Special Tree'; 100+ inch circumference trees are 'Heritage Trees' and cannot be removed except when hazardous. Permits are required, and fees or replacement plantings apply.
Under the Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act of 2016 (DC Law 21-145), any tree 100+ inches in circumference (roughly 32 inches DBH) is designated a Heritage Tree and effectively cannot be removed from private property except when DOEE certifies it hazardous. The Act also banned topping, poisoning, or girdling protected trees. Unauthorized removal carries penalties equal to the tree's replacement value.
When Special Trees are removed in DC, owners must either plant replacement trees on-site or pay into the DC Tree Fund at $55 per inch of removed circumference. DDOT Urban Forestry plants approximately 8,000 street trees annually. Replacement trees must come from the approved native/adapted species list and meet minimum 2-inch caliper standards.
1 cities in District of Columbia have their own tree protection rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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