Colonie, NY Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Colonie, NY, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Code section
- Town Code § 177-3
- Protected size
- Trees over 3 inches diameter
- Approval needed
- Planning Board express consent
- Clearing allowed
- Building, driveway, 10-foot perimeter
- Scope
- Subdivision plats and plans
Summary
In Town of Colonie subdivisions, no live tree over three inches in diameter may be cut down in areas the Planning Board designates for preservation without the Board's express consent, marked on the approved plan.
The Planning Board of the Town of Colonie is empowered to require that trees will be left standing in areas upon the plat or subdivision, and no live tree exceeding three inches in diameter may be cut down in such areas without expressed consent of the Planning Board, to be indicated upon the approved plan. The Planning Board may also require that trees shall not be cut down on or removed from any building plot on the subdivision unless the area is to be occupied by the building thereon.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4902401; v37 updated 2026-05-28; through 05-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Colonie's tree protection lives in Chapter 177 of the Town Code. Under § 177-3, the Planning Board can require that trees be left standing on a plat or subdivision, and once it does, no live tree exceeding three inches in diameter comes down in those areas without the Board's express consent shown on the approved plan. The Board can also bar cutting on a building lot except where the structure will sit: clearing is permitted only for the buildings, driveways, and a ten-foot perimeter around them. There is no separate townwide permit to fell a single yard tree outside these subdivision reviews.
Violations & Fines
Felling a protected tree over three inches in diameter without the Planning Board's express consent breaches § 177-3 and the approved plat, letting the Board condition, withhold, or enforce compliance with the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut a tree in my Colonie yard?
What size tree is protected in Colonie?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colonie
New York rules heatmap·Compare Colonie to another location·View the New York landscaping rules overview
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How other cities in Albany County handle tree removal & heritage trees.