In Howard County you may prune trees inside your yard freely, but a tree growing wholly or partly in the public road right-of-way is a 'roadside tree.' Under Maryland law you must get a Tree Care Permit from the DNR Forest Service before trimming, cutting or removing it.
Howard County has no countywide ordinance requiring a permit to trim trees standing entirely on private property, though forest-conservation easements and HOA rules can apply. Trees in the public right-of-way are protected by Maryland's Roadside Tree Law, enforced statewide by the Department of Natural Resources Forest Service and dating to 1914. Natural Resources section 5-406 bars any person from cutting, trimming or injuring a roadside tree without a departmental permit. A forest ranger inspects and may approve, modify or deny the request, and replanting can be required. For street trees the county Bureau of Highways handles maintenance; residents apply through the Maryland DNR / OneStop portal.
Trimming or cutting a roadside tree without a DNR permit can bring a fine or other penalty from the Department of Natural Resources; permit conditions may require replacement planting within one year.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Howard County park property is open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset. Being in a park between sunset and sunrise is prohibited under Howard Cou...
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Howard County limits light trespass onto neighboring residential property. Measured three feet above ground at the property line, spillover is capped at 0.1 ...
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Howard County's sign code has no special garage-sale sign category. Signs placed in County rights-of-way or attached to utility poles or trees are prohibited...
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Howard County allows political campaign signs up to nine square feet total per premises in residential districts and 32 square feet in commercial or industri...
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Howard County has no standalone tiny-home zoning category. A permanent tiny dwelling is regulated as an accessory apartment under Section 128.0.13, which req...
See how Howard County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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