Cambridge, MA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Cambridge, MA, 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
- Any tree 6+ inches DBH
- Permit authority
- City Arborist
- Replacement Tree protection
- 10 years after planting
- Large-project Tree Study lead time
- 21 days before application
- Large-project bond minimum
- $5,000
- Max daily fine
- $300 per day
Summary
Cutting down a 'Significant Tree,' anything six inches or more in trunk diameter on a Cambridge lot, needs a permit from the City Arborist first. The Arborist logs the tree's size, the reason for removal, photos, the contractor and the property owner before work can start.
For any Significant Tree removal, a permit will be required from the City Arborist. The City Arborist shall keep a record of the type and size of tree removed, the reason for the removal, photographs of the tree documenting the reason for removal, the date, the contractor(s), and the name and address of the property owner.
Full Breakdown
Cambridge Municipal Code (General Code) § 8.66.050(a) requires a City Arborist permit for any Significant Tree removal, where a Significant Tree is defined in § 8.66.030 as any tree six inches or more in diameter at breast height standing on a Lot. Before signing off, the Arborist keeps a record of the type and size of tree removed, the reason for removal, photographs documenting that reason, the removal date, the contractor performing the work, and the name and address of the property owner (§ 8.66.050(a)).
If an insufficient number of Replacement Trees is planted to offset the loss, the property owner owes a Mitigation Payment into the City's Tree Replacement Fund, calculated on a DBH basis under §§ 8.66.070-8.66.080; that payment is waived for emergency removals, City park projects, utility work under state or federal programs, trees posing a real risk to an adjacent structure, dead or dangerous trees, or overly dense lots where thinning benefits the tree canopy (§ 8.66.050(b)). Replacement Trees planted to satisfy the permit stay protected as Replacement Trees for ten years, and removing one of those also needs its own Arborist permit and triggers its own Mitigation Payment (§ 8.66.050(c)).
Larger projects that need a zoning special permit or involve a building of 25,000 square feet or more face an added Tree Study requirement, filed with the Arborist at least twenty-one days before the permit application, plus a bond of at least $5,000 posted with the City Clerk (§ 8.66.060). The permit fee itself is set by the Commissioner of Public Works under § 8.66.150.
Violations & Fines
Removing a Significant Tree without first getting a City Arborist permit, or removing a Replacement Tree within its ten-year protected period without a new permit, violates Chapter 8.66. The Arborist can issue a written notice of violation and a stop-work order; continuing work after a stop-work order draws a fine of up to $300 per day under § 8.66.120, in addition to any Mitigation Payment owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my own property in Cambridge?
Is there a fee to plant a Replacement Tree instead of paying a mitigation fee?
Are dead or dangerous trees exempt from the mitigation fee?
What extra steps apply to a large construction project?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
How Cambridge compares: Cities with the Strictest Tree Removal Rules·Compare Cambridge to another location·View the Massachusetts landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.