Norwalk, CT Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Norwalk, CT, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Tree Warden permit before removal
- Posting requirement
- Sign on tree 10 days pre-removal (DBH ≥6 in.)
- Neighbor notice
- Written notice within 3 business days
- Willful violation penalty
- Up to 3x tree's Assessed Value
- Appeal deadline
- 10 days to Superior Court
Summary
Norwalk bans removing a City Tree, City Shrub or Required Tree without a Tree Warden permit. Removal is granted only if the tree is diseased, poses a safety threat, or the loss can be mitigated, and applicants must file a replanting plan and notify neighboring property owners.
No Person shall Remove a City Tree, City Shrub or Required Tree without a permit from the Tree Warden, except for any Removal that has been permitted pursuant to the applicable provisions of Connecticut General Statutes § 23-65, as amended from time to time. To grant permission to any other Person to Remove a City Tree, City Shrub or Required Tree, the Tree Warden must determine, within 30 days of receiving a complete application, that 1) the Tree and/or Shrub is in poor health or diseased, 2) the Tree and/or Shrub's Removal is unavoidable because the Tree and/or Shrub poses a threat to human health, safety, and welfare, or 3) the negative impact on the Urban Forest caused by the Tree and/or Shrub's Removal can be mitigated.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4888624; v55 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Chapter 112, § 112-8, no one may remove a City Tree, City Shrub or Required Tree without a permit from the Tree Warden, except removals already authorized under Connecticut General Statutes § 23-65. To approve a removal, the Tree Warden must find within 30 days of a complete application that the tree is diseased or in poor health, that removal is unavoidable because it threatens public health or safety, or that the Urban Forest impact of removal can be mitigated. Applicants must give written proof they notified abutting and directly-across-the-street property owners and the Land Use Regulatory Authority within three business days of filing, and must submit a replanting plan under § 112-10.
Applications carry a fee set under § 90-4. 5 by 11 inches with the Tree Warden's contact information for objections. Replacement obligations run separately from the permit: a removed City Tree must be replaced with a tree of equal or greater DBH, an inch-for-inch set of smaller trees (three-inch DBH minimum) totaling the removed tree's DBH, or a payment into the Norwalk Tree Account equal to the tree's Assessed Value; a Legacy Tree carries a 4x multiplier on either option. Replacement trees must be maintained for five years and replaced again if they die in that window.
Anyone objecting to a Tree Warden decision may file a written appeal for a public hearing, with a decision issued within three business days and further appeal to the Superior Court for the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District within 10 days.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree or shrub without a permit exposes the responsible person to enforcement under § 112-13 in addition to mandatory replacement under § 112-10. The Tree Warden issues written notice of the violation and a compliance deadline; continuing prohibited work after a stop-work order draws a daily fine set under § 90-4 per tree or shrub. A willful violation carries a civil penalty of up to three times the tree's Assessed Value, plus the City's legal fees and costs, and the City can seek an injunction in Superior Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a City Tree from my yard without asking Norwalk first?
Do I have to tell my neighbors before removing a protected tree?
What happens if I cut down a City Tree without a permit?
How is a large removed tree replaced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norwalk
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