Tree removal permit rules in Providence County, RI — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
RIGL 2-14-1 et seq. requires municipalities to appoint a tree warden (licensed arborist) for care and control of public trees and rights-of-way. RIGL 11-44-2 imposes criminal and civil penalties for damaging trees on another's property without permission. Providence County has no county government; tree removal on private property is regulated by municipal zoning and tree preservation ordinances. Public tree removal requires tree warden approval.
Providence County tree removal regulations protect the urban canopy by requiring permits for trees above a size threshold, typically 6 to 12 inches trunk diameter measured at breast height (4.5 feet). Applications may require an arborist report. Street trees in the right-of-way are managed exclusively by Providence County public works or urban forestry. Dead, dying, or hazardous trees may qualify for expedited removal. Replacement planting is usually required. Rhode Island state law may preempt local tree ordinances in certain circumstances.
Unauthorized removal: $500 to $10,000 per tree. Replacement planting required. Street tree damage: city restitution costs.
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See how Providence County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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