Public shade trees are protected under MGL c.87 and the Somerville Tree Ordinance. Any pruning of a city tree requires a permit from the Somerville Tree Warden.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 87 (Shade Tree Law) makes every tree within the public way a public shade tree owned by the municipality. In Somerville, only the Tree Warden or contractors working under a permit from the Department of Public Works Urban Forestry Division may prune, cut, or remove public shade trees. Unauthorized cutting can result in fines and restitution equal to the appraised tree value using International Society of Arboriculture methodology, which often runs several thousand dollars per mature tree. Homeowners may freely trim trees entirely within their own property lines, but branches overhanging the sidewalk or street are typically public shade trees even if the trunk is private. The Somerville Tree Ordinance (Chapter 12) strengthens protections for significant trees on private property over a threshold diameter.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
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