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.
Cambridge requires a permit to remove any tree 6 inches DBH or larger under the 2021 Tree Protection Ordinance. Removals require replacement planting or payment into the Cambridge Tree Fund.
The Cambridge Tree Protection Ordinance, significantly expanded in 2021, regulates removal of any tree on private or public property with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 6 inches or more, measured at 4.5 feet above grade. Property owners must apply to the city arborist through the Department of Public Works and demonstrate that the tree is dead, hazardous, diseased, or that removal is necessary for a permitted project. Approved removals trigger mitigation requirements, which typically include planting replacement trees on site at a ratio scaled to the DBH removed, or paying into the Cambridge Tree Fund at a rate that can reach several thousand dollars per significant tree. Unpermitted removals are subject to fines of up to 300 dollars per day per tree plus appraised replacement value, and the ordinance applies equally to developers, landlords, and single-family homeowners.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Cambridge, MA
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Cambridge, MA
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Cambridge, MA
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Cambridge, MA
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Cambridge, MA
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Cambridge, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
See how Cambridge's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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