Tree removal permit rules in Ulster County, NY — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Ulster County has no countywide tree-removal permit, but individual towns vary widely. Trees on state Forest Preserve land are protected by Article XIV of the NY Constitution ('Forever Wild'). Villages often regulate street-tree removal.
Ulster County does not issue tree-removal permits — regulation is at the town or village level. New Paltz, Woodstock, and Rosendale all have some form of tree-preservation rule for specified species or sizes, and require permits in historic districts, ridgelines, or scenic overlay zones. On state land within the Catskills Forest Preserve, the NY Constitution prohibits cutting living trees ("Forever Wild" clause, Article XIV §1); a Constitutional amendment is required for any exception. NYC DEP watershed regulations restrict clearing near streams feeding the Ashokan Reservoir. Unincorporated rural property owners generally may remove trees on their own land without permit.
Cutting a protected village or scenic-overlay tree: $500-$2,500 per tree plus replacement. Cutting a living Forest Preserve tree: Class A misdemeanor; up to 1 year jail and $500+ fine plus restitution.
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See how Ulster County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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