Tree removal permit rules in Erie, PA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Tree removal in the City of Erie is governed by Article 165 (Urban Forest Committee). No person may remove a tree or shrub on a street or municipal property without filing an application and procuring a permit from the City Arborist, and Article 165.07(c) imposes a $50 administrative fee for tree-removal applications (waivable for City-confirmed hazard removals). Routine removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees on private property is generally exempt from City permitting.
Tree removal in the City of Erie is regulated primarily through Article 165 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Erie (https://ecode360.com/33834453), which establishes the Urban Forest Committee and the position of City Arborist within the Department of Public Works, Property and Parks. Article 165 provides that no person shall plant, maintain, remove, or disturb any tree or shrub on any street or municipal-owned property without filing an application and procuring a permit from the City Arborist. Article 165.07(c) imposes a $50 administrative fee for each tree-removal application, which may be waived for hazardous-tree removals as determined by the City Arborist. Removal of trees on private property in connection with a land-development or subdivision project triggers review under Erie's land development and zoning ordinance (the Erie Zoning Ordinance, eCode360 https://ecode360.com/ER3969/document/742026631.pdf), and may require Planning Commission review. Major-development projects with earth disturbance over 5,000 sq ft must also comply with PA DEP NPDES Construction General Permit requirements (25 Pa. Code Chapter 102) coordinated with the Erie County Conservation District. Routine removal of a single dead, diseased, or hazardous tree on private property outside the right-of-way is generally exempt from City permitting. The City coordinates with ReLeaf Erie on broader urban-forest stewardship.
Removing a street tree or municipal tree without a City Arborist permit under Article 165 is a code violation. Article 165 enforcement carries fines up to $300, with default of payment punishable by imprisonment up to 30 days under standard Erie penalty provisions, plus restitution for the appraised value of the tree (often several thousand dollars per mature specimen using ISA tree-appraisal methodology). Unpermitted clearing on a land-development site can trigger stop-work orders, PA DEP NPDES enforcement under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102, and required replacement planting at an elevated ratio.
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