Upper Darby, PA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Section 506-4 of Chapter 506, Article I, Shade Trees, makes it unlawful to remove a public street, highway, avenue, park, or parkway tree without first obtaining a written permit from the Commission, which must designate the type of tree and place where it is to be planted or removed. The Shade Tree Commission created in § 506-2 reviews removal requests. Separately, § 506-8 gives the Commission authority to compel removal of a diseased tree: it may issue 30 days' written notice to the property owner requiring removal, and if the owner fails to act within another 30 days, the Commission may do so and collect the costs thereof from the owner.

Recovered costs become a lien on the property under § 506-10, filed and collected the way the Township files municipal claims. Removal work performed by a private contractor requires a $15 permit fee per job under § 506-9, while a property owner personally removing a tree on his own land needs no permit or fee but must still meet the article's other requirements. The Commission's authority reaches only trees in or upon any public street, highway, avenue, park, parkway or other public area, as defined in § 506-1; it does not extend to purely private trees away from those public rights-of-way.