Franklin Township, PA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Franklin Township, PA, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Subdivision/land development plan review
- Protected size
- Trees 6 inches dbh or larger
- Also protected
- PNDI-listed vegetation
- Approval authority
- Township, for good cause shown
- Replacement
- Comparable size/species, set by Board
- Penalty
- Up to $500/day, Magisterial District Judge
Summary
In Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, existing woodland, hedgerows and trees with a trunk diameter of six inches or more, plus any species listed on the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory, cannot be cleared without prior Township approval once a property enters subdivision or land development review. The rule lives in the Subdivision and Land Development ordinance, not the zoning code, and ties directly to the developer's approved landscape plan.
Existing vegetation, such as woodlands, hedgerows and trees, with a dbh of six inches or more or vegetation listed on the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory, excluding invasive vegetation, shall be preserved and incorporated into screening and landscaping plans. Such trees and vegetation shall be designated on the landscape plan submitted by the developer, and may be removed only with the prior approval of the Township for good cause shown. The Township may require replacement of removed or materially damaged vegetation. ... Trees six inches dbh within the limits of disturbance are to be inventoried by the applicant. Any such trees which were to be preserved that are materially damaged or removed during construction must be replaced with a tree or trees of comparable size and species as required by the Board of Supervisors.
Full Breakdown
Franklin Township's tree-protection standard sits at § 22-610 of the Subdivision and Land Development ordinance, inside the Screening and Landscaping section of Part 6, Site Design Standards. It applies when a tract goes through subdivision or land development review, not to routine yard maintenance on an already-built lot. Any woodland, hedgerow or tree with a diameter at breast height (dbh) of six inches or more, or any vegetation listed on the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory, must be shown on the landscape plan the developer submits and, once designated, may be removed only with the Township's prior approval for good cause shown.
Invasive vegetation is excluded from the protection. Trees six inches dbh or larger that fall within the limits of disturbance must be inventoried by the applicant before construction, and any of those inventoried trees that are materially damaged or removed during construction must be replaced with a tree of comparable size and species, as the Board of Supervisors requires. The Board approves the screening and landscaping plan at final plan stage, and the Township may also require replacement of any other removed or damaged vegetation beyond the inventoried trees.
Because the trigger is a subdivision or land development application, a homeowner clearing trees on an existing residential lot outside that process is not covered by this particular section.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 22 enforcement runs through § 22-1004: a civil enforcement action before a Magisterial District Judge can impose a judgment of up to $500 plus court costs and the Township's reasonable attorney's fees. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, though a good-faith belief of compliance limits liability to one violation until the fifth day after the judge's determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Franklin Township yard?
What size trees does the ordinance protect?
What happens if a protected tree is removed during construction?
Who enforces this rule and what is the fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin Township
Compare Franklin Township to another location·View the Pennsylvania landscaping rules overview
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