Tree removal permit rules in Suffolk County, NY — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Most Suffolk County towns require a permit to remove trees above a certain diameter, with replacement requirements. Brookhaven requires permits for trees over 6 inches DBH, Huntington over 8 inches, and Southampton and East Hampton have aggressive tree protection ordinances on the East End. Clearing for development requires a tree survey.
Brookhaven Town Code Chapter 88 (Vegetation Preservation) requires a permit to remove any tree of 6 inches DBH or larger, with a 1:1 replacement mitigation on developed lots and more for clearing. Huntington Chapter 183 protects trees over 8 inches DBH. Southampton Chapter 325 and East Hampton Chapter 255 impose some of the strictest tree protection in New York, covering trees as small as 4 inches DBH in sensitive areas. In the Pine Barrens Core Preservation Area, vegetation removal is additionally regulated by the Pine Barrens Commission.
Unpermitted tree removal: $1,000-$5,000 per tree in western towns, up to $25,000 per tree in Southampton and East Hampton. Stop-work orders and replacement planting required. Pine Barrens violations: enhanced penalties under ECL Article 57.
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See how Suffolk County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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