Tree removal permit rules in Delaware County, PA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Delaware County has no countywide tree-removal permit. Removing a street tree in the public right-of-way requires the local shade-tree commission's action under state law, while a tree entirely on your own property is generally yours to remove unless your municipality's zoning code says otherwise.
The PA Shade Tree Act (53 P.S. §2811) gives an adopting municipality's shade-tree commission exclusive and absolute control over removing shade trees on public highways. Before setting out or removing street trees, the commission must give published public notice under 53 P.S. §2813. Private-property tree removal is not a county matter; some Delco municipalities impose their own tree-conservation, riparian-buffer or steep-slope rules through zoning under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, 53 P.S. §10101 et seq.), so check your local ordinance. Delaware County directly controls only trees within county parks.
Injuring or removing a protected public shade tree without authorization can draw municipal fines and penalties that, under the Shade Tree Act, become a lien on the offender's real property collectible like a tax lien.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Delaware County parks are open to the public only from dawn to dusk (exception by permit only). No one may remain in a county park after hours unless authori...
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Delaware County does not regulate yard-sale signs on private property. Temporary garage-sale signs are governed by your borough or township sign ordinance, w...
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Delaware County has no sign ordinance for private property. Political-sign rules (size, number, how long before and after an election) are set by your boroug...
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Delaware County sets no tiny-home rule. Whether a tiny house on a foundation is allowed is decided by your municipality's zoning ordinance, and it must meet ...
See how Delaware County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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