Prince George's County, MD Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Prince George's County, MD, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- 10,000+ sq ft woodland disturbance, residential
- Exemption threshold
- Lots under 40,000 sq ft
- Violation fine
- Up to $9.00 per sq ft destroyed
- Appeal window
- 15 days from violation notice
- Reviewing agency
- M-NCPPC Planning Dept, County enforces
Summary
Clearing 10,000 square feet or more of woodland on a Prince George's County lot triggers the Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Division and requires an approved Tree Conservation Plan before any cutting starts. Smaller residential jobs and lots under 40,000 square feet can qualify for a Letter of Exemption instead.
Except as provided in (b) below, this Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Division applies to: (A) All DRD applications and grading permit applications, excluding applications which propose residential construction activity resulting in the disturbance of less than 10,000 square feet of woodlands on a single lot of any size or linear project that do not have a previously approved and valid TCP;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Under County Code Subtitle 25, Sec. 25-119(a)(1)(A), any grading permit or development (DRD) application is subject to the Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Division unless it is residential construction disturbing less than 10,000 square feet of woodland on a single lot with no previously approved Tree Conservation Plan (TCP). Qualifying projects must submit a TCP1 or TCP2 prepared and stamped by a licensed forester, landscape architect, or other qualified professional, reviewed by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Planning Department under Sec. 25-120(a)(1). Smaller sites can instead get a Standard Letter of Exemption: Sec.
25-119(b)(5)(A)-(B) issues one automatically when a lot or combined parcel is under 40,000 square feet, or has less than 10,000 square feet of existing woodland and no approved TCP. County inspectors are authorized under Sec. 25-120(c)(1)(A) to enter properties before, during, and after construction to confirm tree protection devices are installed and that clearing tracks the approved plan; a use-and-occupancy permit cannot be issued if required protection devices are not in place. Removing a documented dead, dying, or hazardous tree, or clearing invasive or noxious species, does not require a permit under Sec.
25-120(c)(3)(A)-(B), but hand tools only, no wheeled mechanical equipment. Property in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area is exempt from this Division because it falls under Subtitle 5B instead.
Violations & Fines
Destroying woodland beyond 5,000 square feet without a permit, or contrary to an approved TCP2, is a violation under Sec. 25-120(c)(2)(C)(ii) and can draw a fine of up to $9.00 per square foot of woodland destroyed (Sec. 25-120(c)(4)), plus required mitigation on an acre-for-acre basis. The County can also issue a stop-work order or seek an injunction. Violators must submit a mitigation TCP within 30 days of the violation notice; a notice can be appealed in writing to the County within 15 days under Sec. 25-120(c)(7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove trees on my Prince George's County property?
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree without approval?
What is the penalty for clearing woodland without a plan?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
Compare Prince George's County to another location·View the Maryland landscaping rules overview
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