Tree removal permit rules in Allegheny County, PA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Private tree removal in Allegheny County generally does not require a county permit. Pittsburgh and several suburbs (Mt. Lebanon, Fox Chapel, Sewickley) require permits and replacement plantings for significant or landmark trees. Street tree removal always requires a municipal permit.
Pittsburgh City Code Chapter 635 requires a permit to remove any tree in the public right-of-way, plus replacement planting or in-lieu fee. Development sites in Pittsburgh with more than a threshold number of trees must submit a tree preservation plan under the zoning code. Mt. Lebanon, Fox Chapel Borough, and Sewickley Heights have landmark/heritage tree protections for trees above a diameter threshold (often 24 inches DBH) requiring arborist review. Most smaller municipalities have no private-tree removal regulations; owners may remove trees on their own parcels without permit.
Pittsburgh street tree removal without permit: $300-$1,000 plus replacement cost. Landmark tree violations can reach $2,500+ per tree.
Allegheny County, PA
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See how Allegheny County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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