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

Section 182-13, Pruning or removal of trees, was added to Chapter 182 (Property Maintenance) on 12-3-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007, and it is the Village of Hamburg's rule for trees on private land. The Village has the right to cause the pruning or removal of any dead, dying, dangerous or diseased tree on private property within the Village. Two triggers qualify: the tree constitutes a hazard to life or property, or it harbors insects or disease which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the Village. The section addresses hazard trees.

The process runs through written notice. The Village notifies the owners of the property and of the trees in writing, and removal must be done by those owners within 60 days after the date of service of notice. If the owners do not comply, the Village or its authorized representative has authority to remove the trees, charge the cost of removal to the owners and levy the same on subsequent tax bills.

Trees in public places are handled separately. Under § 225-3Q the Village removes dead, dying or dangerous trees in public places as determined by the Superintendent of Public Works, and everyone else is restrained from removing, planting, pruning or treating trees in public places. Under § 203-22, applications to the Board of Trustees or any Village officer for consent or permission to plant, trim, cut or remove any tree or part of a tree must be accompanied by an indemnity bond in an amount determined by the Board of Trustees, and any such consent is revocable by the Board. Penalties for Chapter 182 violations appear in § 182-14. This page covers the Code of the Village of Hamburg only, not the Town of Hamburg that surrounds it.