Washington, DC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Washington, DC, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Special Tree threshold
- 55-inch trunk circumference
- Fund payment option
- $35 per inch of circumference
- Unpermitted removal fine
- $100+ per inch of circumference
- Issuing authority
- Mayor, via Department of Transportation
- Hazardous trees
- May be removed without a permit
Summary
In Washington, D.C., cutting down, topping, girdling, or otherwise destroying any Special Tree, one with a trunk circumference of 55 inches or more, without a Mayor-issued removal permit is unlawful under the Urban Forest Preservation Program.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person or nongovernmental entity, without a Special Tree removal permit issued by the Mayor, to top, cut down, remove, girdle, break, or destroy any Special Tree. ... (d) A violation of subsection (a) of this section, or a failure to comply with the conditions contained in a Special Tree removal permit, shall constitute a violation subject to a fine of not less than $100 per each inch of the circumference of the Special Tree in question.
Full Breakdown
The District's Urban Forest Preservation Program, administered by the Mayor through the Department of Transportation, bars anyone from topping, cutting down, girdling, breaking, or destroying a Special Tree, any tree with a circumference of 55 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet up the trunk, without a Special Tree removal permit. The Mayor must issue the permit if the tree is certified hazardous, belongs to a species regulations identify as appropriate for removal, or the applicant pays $35 per inch of the tree's circumference into the District's Tree Fund, which finances tree planting and hazard-removal subsidies for residents.
Violations & Fines
Removing a Special Tree without a permit, or violating permit conditions, draws a civil fine of at least $100 per inch of the tree's circumference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "Special Tree" in D.C.?
Can I remove a hazardous Special Tree without a permit?
How much does a Special Tree removal permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia landscaping rules overview
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