Tree removal permit rules in Honolulu, HI — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Honolulu protects designated 'exceptional trees' under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Chapter 40, Article 8. Removing or destroying any exceptional tree without City Council approval is unlawful (ROH § 40-8.8). Any pruning of branches or alteration of an exceptional tree's characteristic shape requires a permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation (Division of Urban Forestry). Street trees in the public right-of-way are City property and always require a permit.
ROH § 40-8.2 defines an 'exceptional tree' as one with historic or cultural value, or which by reason of age, rarity, location, size, esthetic quality, or endemic status has been designated by the City Council as worthy of preservation. The Arborist Advisory Committee (ROH § 40-8.3) reviews nominations and recommends designation. Once listed on the Register of Exceptional Trees (ROH § 40-8.7), removal requires Council approval and any crown or root pruning requires a permit from the Division of Urban Forestry (DPR). Emergency removals are governed by ROH § 40-8.9. All street trees (between sidewalk and street) are City property under DPR; injuring or destroying them is unlawful. For non-exceptional trees on private property, DPP permits ($25-$500) may apply.
Under ROH § 40-8.8, anyone who removes or destroys an exceptional tree without Council approval, or alters its shape or branches without a DPR permit, is fined up to $1,000 per violation. Damaging street trees is independently unlawful and can result in code citations, restoration costs, and stop-work orders.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Honolulu County.
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