Glen Cove, NY Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Section 263-4 makes it unlawful to perform, or hire anyone to perform, a tree removal act on any private tree with a diameter at breast height of eight inches or more without first getting Tree Commission approval and a permit issued by the Building Department Administrator. The only exception is an emergency, defined as a condition where the tree threatens human life, welfare or property.

To apply, Section 263-5 requires the applicant's name and address, the purpose and site of the removal, a sketch showing existing trees by species and size, the trees to be removed, nearby improvements, and, if a tree company is doing the work, its Nassau County Consumer Affairs license number. The Building Department Administrator date-stamps the application, and the Commission must grant or deny it within seven business days; if it does not act in that window, the permit is deemed granted automatically. The Commission weighs the tree's condition and hazard, whether removal is necessary for the project, the ecological effect, the character of existing vegetation, and whether the tree qualifies as a specimen tree, and it may require the applicant to pay for an independent arborist's opinion. A nonrefundable fee, set by the City Council, is charged per tree and funds the Tree Restoration Fund. Anyone denied a permit may appeal to the Building Department Administrator within 30 days under Section 263-13, and that appeal is likewise deemed granted if not decided within seven business days.