Saratoga Springs, NY Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Saratoga Springs, NY, 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 triggers on
- Any street or public-place tree
- Issuing agency
- Department of Public Works
- Approves the work
- Commissioner of Public Works / City Forester
- Private-yard trees
- No city removal permit
- Penalty
- General penalty, Ch. 1, Art. III
Summary
Removing, cutting, or even climbing any tree standing in a Saratoga Springs street or public place requires a written permit from the Department of Public Works. A tree entirely on your own private property needs no city removal permit unless it is tied to development review.
§ 220-2. Permit required. A. Except upon order of the Department of Public Works, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation or the officer or employee of a corporation without a written permit from the Department of Public Works to remove, destroy, cut, break, climb or injure any tree, plant or shrub or portion thereof that is planted or growing in or upon any public highway or public place within the City of Saratoga Springs...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4856340; v41 updated 2026-04-07; through 04-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 220-2 makes it unlawful to remove, destroy, cut, break, climb or injure any tree, plant or shrub on a public highway or public place without a written permit from the Department of Public Works. You apply to the Commissioner of Public Works, stating the number and condition of the nearest trees; the Commissioner and/or the City Forester must find the work necessary and approve the method and workmanship before a permit issues. The DPW holds exclusive jurisdiction over street and public-place trees (§ 220-1). Trees wholly on private ground carry no removal permit, though the Commissioner can order an owner to trim, treat or remove a diseased or hazardous tree (§ 220-6).
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 220, including cutting or removing a street tree without a DPW permit, is an unlawful act subject, on conviction, to the general penalty in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III of the City Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my own yard in Saratoga Springs?
What about the tree between the sidewalk and the street?
What happens if I cut a city tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saratoga Springs
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