Delaware County, PA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- County rule
- None: parks only
- Street trees
- Shade-tree commission
- State authority
- 53 P.S. §2811
- Private-yard trees
- Owner may prune
- Penalty
- Fine, becomes lien
Summary
Delaware County does not regulate tree trimming on residential streets. In municipalities that have adopted the Pennsylvania Shade Tree Act, a shade-tree commission has exclusive control of trees in the public right-of-way. Trees wholly on your own land are yours to prune.
a Commission of three freeholders, to be known and designated as the Shade-tree Commission of the said township, borough, or city ... who shall have exclusive and absolute custody and control of, and power to plant, set out, remove, maintain, protect, and care for, shade-trees, on any of the public highways of the said townships, boroughs, and cities.
Full Breakdown
Under the PA Shade Tree Act of 1907 (53 P.S. §2811), a municipality may appoint a three-member shade-tree commission with exclusive and absolute custody and control of shade trees on public highways, including the power to plant, remove, maintain, protect and care for them. Where that applies, pruning a street tree or verge tree may require commission approval or be done by the municipality. Trees entirely on private property are generally unregulated at the county level and may be pruned by the owner, subject to common-law rules against harming a neighbor's tree. Delaware County itself only manages trees in county parks.
Violations & Fines
A shade-tree commission may make and enforce regulations, assess fines and penalties for injuring protected street trees, and those penalties can become a lien on the offender's real property, collected like tax liens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim the tree on my curb strip?
Does the county regulate tree trimming?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Delaware County
Compare Delaware County to another location·View the Pennsylvania landscaping rules overview
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