Nashua, NH Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Nashua, NH, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Applies only to
- trees in protected wetland buffers
- Replacement deadline
- 30 days from violation notice
- Minimum replacement size
- 6 feet tall
- Security held by City
- 3x fair market value, 1 year
- Approval authority
- Administrative Officer w/ Conservation Commission
Summary
Nashua does not require a permit to remove trees on ordinary residential lots, but a tree cut or damaged inside a protected wetland buffer must be replaced tree-for-tree.
A tree that has been substantially damaged or unlawfully removed from a wetland buffer that is protected by City ordinances must be replaced with its equivalent replacement in trees. Replacement trees shall be a type of species having shade potential and other positive values at least equal to that of the tree that was removed and shall be a minimum of six feet in height when planted.
B. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH) The measurement of a tree's trunk diameter in inches at breast height 4 1/2 feet above ground level. For trees with less than 4 1/2 feet of clear trunk, the diameter shall be of the largest leader measured 4 1/2 feet above ground level. For multitrunk trees it shall be the sum of the diameter of the individual trunks measured 4 1/2 feet above ground level. If the DBH is not determinable because cut trees have been removed from the site, DBH shall be determined from the "DBH in Relation to Stump Diameter" tables found in the Forestry Handbook, 2nd ed., 1984, by the Society of American Foresters, edited by Karl Wenger, published by John Wiley & Sons Publishers. EQUIVALENT REPLACEMENT The replacement of a removed or damaged tree to compensate for that tree's removal or its damage with one tree the same diameter or a combination of smaller trees that will equal that removed tree's DBH as defined herein. TREE
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
City code has no citywide tree-removal permit. The one binding local rule sits in the wetlands article: a tree substantially damaged or unlawfully removed from a protected wetland buffer must be replaced with an equivalent tree, minimum six feet tall at planting, within 30 days of a violation notice. The Administrative Officer, advised by the Conservation Commission, must approve the replacement landscape plan, and the City holds a security deposit equal to three times the tree's fair market value for one year to guarantee survival. Outside wetland buffers, the code is silent on tree removal.
Violations & Fines
Each tree removed from a buffer zone is a separate zoning violation prosecuted under RSA 676; the owner must also plant equivalent replacement trees within 30 days and post a security equal to 3x the tree's market value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my Nashua property?
What happens if I remove a tree from a wetland buffer in Nashua?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
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