Tree removal permit rules in Detroit, MI — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Street trees and trees in the public right-of-way in Detroit are city-owned and may only be removed by the General Services Department Forestry Division. Trees on private property are generally the owner's responsibility, supported by the Dead, Dangerous, and Diseased Tree Program.
Detroit treats street and right-of-way trees, typically in the strip between sidewalk and curb, in parks, or on city property, as city-owned assets managed by the General Services Department Forestry Division at (313) 871-5461. Residents cannot remove or top a city tree without a work order; unauthorized removal triggers fines and replacement costs. Trees entirely on private property are the owner's responsibility, subject to property-maintenance and Chapter 50 Article XIV Division 2 landscape/screening rules for commercial and multifamily parcels. The Dead, Dangerous, and Diseased (DDD) Tree Program trims or removes qualifying private trees at no resident cost; eligibility is screened by Forestry after a request through Improve Detroit or 311.
Removing, topping, or trimming a city-owned street or park tree without authorization violates city rules and may carry replacement restitution. Failing to address dead or dangerous private trees threatening neighbors can trigger property-maintenance citations and city abatement.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wayne County.
See how other cities in Wayne County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
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