3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Suffolk County tree rules are municipal. Boston's Public Shade Tree Law (MGL c. 87) protects all street trees — removal requires Tree Warden approval and public hearing. Private-property tree removal in Boston has limited regulation.
Massachusetts Public Shade Trees over 14 inches circumference (~4.5" diameter) receive heightened protection under MGL c. 87 §3. Boston does not maintain a separate heritage-tree registry but manages landmark trees on public land through Parks & Rec.
MGL c. 87, § 3 (Cutting of public shade trees; public hearing; damages to fee owner)
Section 3. Except as provided by section five, public shade trees shall not be cut, trimmed or removed, in whole or in part, by any person other than the tree warden or his deputy, even if he be the owner of the fee in the land on which such tree is situated, except upon a permit in writing from said tree warden, nor shall they be cut down or removed by the tree warden or his deputy or other pe...
Suffolk County tree replacement requirements apply to public shade trees under MGL c. 87 and to major development under Boston Article 80. Private-property replacement is limited but encouraged through Boston's Urban Forest Plan.
1 cities in Suffolk County have their own tree protection rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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