Tree Protection in Prince George's County, MD (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Prince George's County singles out its biggest and most significant trees for extra protection under the Woodland Conservation Ordinance. A 'specimen tree' is any tree 30 inches or more in trunk diameter, or a champion-class or historically notable tree, and removing one during development triggers a mandatory variance plus a replacement fee into a dedicated county fund.
PG County Specimen and Historic Tree Rules
Significant RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 25-118 (Specimen tree); § 25-119(d)(2)(A); § 25-120(e)(1)(C)
Specimen tree: Trees having a diameter at breast height of 30 inches or more; trees having 75% or more of the diameter at breast height of the current champion of that species; or a particularly impressive or unusual example of a species due to its size, shape, age or any other trait that epitomizes the character of the species. This definition includes all champion trees designated by the Unit...
Protected Tree Species
Prince George's County's Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance forces a mandatory variance review before a development can clear trees, plants, or vegetation on state or national rare, threatened, or endangered species lists. County Code Section 25-119(d)(2)(B) triggers that review, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources gets formal notice of every request.
PG County Protects Rare and Endangered Trees
Significant RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 25-119(d)(1), (d)(2)(B), (d)(4)
(1)An applicant may request a variance from this Division as part of the review of a TCP where owing to special features of the site or other circumstances, implementation of this Division would result in unwarranted hardship to an applicant.(2)An applicant shall request a variance from Section 25-122(b)(1)(G) and (H) as part of the review of the TCP when:...(B)Trees, plants, and vegetation ide...
Parkway Planting
Prince George's County requires developers to plant roadside trees within permit areas at their own cost and bars anyone from damaging trees in the road right-of-way. The Department of Public Works and Transportation must approve tree species and placement, and no one may spray, trim, plant or excavate near a roadside tree without a permit.
PG County Roadside Tree Planting Rules
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 23-141(b)-(d),(h),(j)
The permittee shall be required to plant roadside trees within the limits of the permit area and shall be responsible for all costs associated with such planting. ... No person shall do or cause any of the following acts to be done to any roadside tree: Place salt, brine, oil, herbicide, or other substances injurious to roadside trees on, or in the area of, a roadside tree ... Provide an open s...
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