Tree removal permit rules in Lowell, MA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Private trees may generally be removed without a permit in Lowell, but any public shade tree requires Tree Warden approval and a posted hearing under MGL c.87. Trees in wetland buffers also need Conservation Commission review.
Lowell does not have a general heritage-tree ordinance that restricts removal of trees on private property, so homeowners may typically remove trees in their own yards without a city permit. However, two major exceptions apply. First, any tree in the public right-of-way, including tree-belt trees between sidewalk and curb, is a public shade tree protected under MGL c.87. Removal requires a written request to the Tree Warden, posting of a removal notice on the tree, a public hearing if any written objection is filed, and either replacement planting or a payment into the city tree fund. Second, trees located within 100 feet of a wetland, stream, or the Merrimack River riverfront area fall under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c.131 s.40) and the Lowell Conservation Commission. Removal in these buffer zones typically requires a Request for Determination of Applicability or a Notice of Intent filing. Dead, diseased, or hazardous public trees can be removed on an expedited basis when documented by an arborist.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Lowell, MA
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Lowell, MA
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Lowell, MA
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Lowell, MA
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Lowell, MA
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Lowell, MA
Industrial operations in Lowell must keep noise within Massachusetts DEP guidelines and the local ordinance, with stricter limits at residential property lines.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
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