Providence, RI Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Providence, RI, 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 issuer
- City forester
- Applies to
- Public trees only
- Where to apply
- Roger Williams Park Carriage House
- 1-2 family homes
- Exempt from removal rules
- Replacement
- Remover pays, matching size/species
Summary
Providence requires a city forester permit before anyone cuts, prunes, or removes a public tree on a street, park, or other public place, with replacement required at the remover's cost.
No person shall remove a public tree for the purpose of construction or any other reason, without first filing an application and procuring a permit from the city forester. The city forester may require replacement of a removed tree as a condition to the issuance of a permit. Such replacement shall meet the standards of size, species and placement as provided for in a permit issued by the city forester. The person or property owner shall bear the cost of removal and replacement of all trees removed. (Ord. 1985, ch. 85-59, § 14, 5-21-85)
Sec. 23½-28. - Registration of tree experts. To protect the public, the city shall require any person who removes or maintains trees on public property as a business to be:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
Under the City Tree Ordinance (Chapter 23½), no one may plant, prune, cut, remove, or otherwise disturb a tree on a street, park, or public place without a permit from the city forester, issued through the Division of Grounds Maintenance Services at Roger Williams Park's Carriage House. Removing a public tree for construction or any other reason requires filing an application first; the forester can condition the permit on replacing the tree with matching size and species, and the remover bears the full cost. One- and two-family owner-occupied residential properties are exempt from the chapter's tree rules (except the emergency-waiver and large-object-moving sections), so this permit targets city-owned street and park trees, not typical residential yard trees.
Violations & Fines
Violating the chapter is enforced by the police department and subjects the offender to court action and the penalties in § 1-10, plus mandatory replacement of the tree or repair of damage in a size and species the city forester approves; each affected tree is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my own yard in Providence?
Who issues the tree removal permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.