Plymouth County, MA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Plymouth County, 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
- Private tree removal
- No county permit
- Public shade trees
- Hearing and consent
- Authority
- MGL c.87 §3
- Near wetlands
- Commission approval needed
Summary
You may remove trees on your own land in Plymouth County without a county permit. But no public shade tree in or beside a road may be removed without a tree warden's public hearing and written consent, under MGL c.87 §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 person without a public hearing...
Full Breakdown
Removing a tree standing on private property in a Plymouth County community requires no county approval, because Massachusetts counties hold no ordinance power. The firm limit is state law protecting public shade trees, meaning any tree within a public way or on its boundary. Under MGL chapter 87, section 3, such a tree cannot be cut down or removed by anyone, including the abutting owner, without the tree warden's written permit and a duly posted public hearing. Towns from Scituate to Middleborough enforce this through their tree warden. Trees near wetlands, bogs, or coastal banks carry a separate check: removal that alters a protected resource area needs conservation commission approval under the Wetlands Protection Act.
Violations & Fines
Removing a public shade tree without the tree warden's consent is punishable by forfeiture of up to five hundred dollars to the town under MGL c.87 §6. Unpermitted work in a wetland buffer draws separate conservation commission enforcement orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut down a tree in my own yard?
What if the tree is near a wetland or bog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts landscaping rules overview
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