Harrisburg, PA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Chapter 10-101 of the Harrisburg Codified Ordinances gives the Department of Parks, Recreation and Enrichment exclusive custody and control over the planting, removal and protection of trees on and along the streets and highways in the City. Those trees are the "shade trees" the chapter regulates. Section 10-101.4 bars any person from planting, cutting, trimming, or removing a shade tree under the Department's jurisdiction without a permit first. The same section requires a permit to fasten a sign, wire or rope to a shade tree and to store stone, brick, sand, concrete or other material where it blocks water, air or fertilizer from reaching the roots.

The Department can attach a replacement condition. Under § 10-101.6, the applicant plants another tree in place of the one removed, at the applicant's own expense, and the Department directs the type, size and location of the new tree and the time within which the planting is accomplished. Cost sits with the abutting owner: § 10-101.2 puts the cost of furnishing, planting, transplanting or removing shade trees on the owner of the real estate in front of whose property the work is done, except for any part the Department certifies to City Council and the City Treasurer as a City charge. The owner receives 30 days' written notice by mail of the assessment, and the amount becomes a lien from the time the certificate is filed with Council.

Some removals are ordered instead of requested. Section 10-101.17 directs the Department or the Bureau of Codes Enforcement to order removal when roots are getting into water or sewer lines or causing structural damage, when the tree is infected, diseased or dead, when primary roots are lifting sidewalks or pavement up more than six inches, and in other circumstances approved by the Department Director or a designee. Codes Enforcement must notify the Department each time it orders a removal. When the Department itself proposes to plant, transplant or remove a shade tree, § 10-101.18 requires written notice to the property owner by regular mail at least seven days before the work, unless the decision rests on an emergency condition.

Trees on private lots are handled in the zoning code. Section 7-307.13 sends planting and removal in the public right-of-way to the Shade Tree Ordinance, and for private property it requires existing healthy trees with a trunk diameter of 12 inches or more to be preserved to the maximum extent feasible while still permitting reasonable use of the property.