Tree removal permit rules in Buffalo, NY — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Removing a Buffalo street tree requires a permit from the Bureau of Forestry. Protected trees in city parks and Olmsted parkways cannot be removed without Common Council review. Trees on private property may generally be removed without a city permit.
Under Buffalo City Code Chapter 413, the Division of Forestry has exclusive authority over planting, pruning, and removal of trees in the public right-of-way and in city parks. A property owner or contractor who wants a street tree removed must submit a Forestry request and demonstrate that the tree is dead, hazardous, or in irreconcilable conflict with infrastructure. Removal of healthy street trees is generally refused. Private trees on residential lots do not require a city permit, but removals within historic preservation districts (e.g., Allentown, Parkside) may need Preservation Board sign-off if they are part of the historic landscape. Landmark trees specifically designated by the city are protected.
Unauthorized removal of a city tree: fines up to 250 dollars plus full tree-valuation damages. Historic district violations are an additional 250 dollars per offense.
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See how Buffalo's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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