Springfield, MA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Springfield, MA, 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 authority
- City Forester
- Significant tree
- 75+ yrs or 3+ ft DBH
- Replacement ratio
- 1 in. caliper per DBH in.
- Max fine
- $500 per violation
Summary
Springfield, Massachusetts requires a City Forester permit to cut, prune or remove any public shade tree, and gives extra protection to 'significant trees' 75 years old or wider than 3 feet DBH.
No person shall cut down, remove, prune, trim branches, injure (including damage by vehicle) or destroy any public shade tree or other City-owned tree unless said person has obtained a permit or approval to do so in accordance with this chapter.
D. Construction activities.
(1) The City Forester shall be notified of any project impacting or occurring adjacent to a public shade tree or other City-owned tree. Such notification shall occur at the time of application for a new construction permit or street occupancy permit by the Building Commissioner's Office or Department of Public Works. See § 368-5F for mitigation requirements for construction activities.
(2) Adequate tree protection zones as determined by the City Forester will be provided by any person performing construction activities near a public shade tree or other City-owned tree. Tree protections zones shall be in place prior to the commencement of work and remain in place until all work is complete. Excavation within the tree protection zone must be reviewed and approved in advance by the City Forester.
E. Procedures.
(1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4680006; v21 updated 2025-12-15; through 12-15-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 368 of Springfield's Revised Ordinances, rewritten citywide in Hampden County effective March 18, 2024, bars cutting, removing, pruning, trimming or injuring any public shade tree or other City-owned tree without a City Forester permit. Removal of a public shade tree further requires either one-inch-caliper replacement per inch of DBH removed, a $50-per-DBH-inch payment to the Tree Replacement Fund, or a Forester finding of no adverse impact. Separately, 'significant trees', 75 years or older, or 3 feet or more in trunk diameter, on public OR private land, cannot be cut, trimmed or removed without a City Forester permit showing the tree endangers persons or property or is diseased or damaged.
Violations & Fines
Removing or pruning a public shade tree without a permit violates § 368-5C; cutting a significant tree without Forester approval violates § 368-6. Either draws a fine up to $500 per violation, or up to triple the tree's assessed value under § 368-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a street tree in Springfield, MA without permission?
What is a 'significant tree' under Springfield's ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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