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

Town Code Chapter 260 bans cutting down, removing, topping, excessively pruning, injuring, damaging or killing any regulated tree without a valid tree removal permit in force at the time of the work (§ 260-3A). Regulated trees include anything over eight inches DBH townwide, trees over four inches DBH in a wetland/watercourse buffer or six inches on an excessively steep slope, any tree the DEC lists as a protected native plant, any "Designated Tree" tied to a Town approval, and any public or street tree (§ 260-4A).

Applications route to whichever Board already has jurisdiction over the project, or to the Forestry Officer directly for routine removals; the Forestry Officer coordinates timing with any related building, subdivision, site plan or stormwater permit (§ 260-7). Permits can be granted, conditioned or denied under the standards in § 260-8, which generally requires replacement trees equal to 90% of the removed tree's environmental value (only 30% on undeveloped forested land tied to new construction), selected from the Town's Official Replacement Planting List, with at least 50% native species.

Fees are set by the Town Board, cut in half for applications to remove just one or two trees in a calendar year, and waived entirely for invasive species (§ 260-12A). An applicant who disagrees with a Forestry Officer denial has 10 business days to file a written administrative appeal with the Town Clerk; the Conservation Advisory Council then mediates for up to 45 days before the Town Board holds a hearing within 30 more days (§ 260-13A).