Maine state law: tree-removal permits

The Maine Revised Statutes do not require a state-level permit for removing trees on private residential property outside the mandatory Shoreland Zone. The Shoreland Zoning Act, codified at 38 MRS § 435 et seq. and implemented through 38 MRS § 439-A and DEP Shoreland Zoning Standards (Chapter 1000), is the dominant statewide tree-removal constraint. Inside the standard 75-foot (most waters) or 100-foot (GPA great ponds and rivers) buffer from the normal high-water line of any great pond, river, freshwater wetland, or tidal water: 'there may be no cleared opening or openings greater than 250 square feet and a well-distributed stand of vegetation must be retained.' Selective cutting is permitted of 'no more than 40% of the trees 4.5 inches or more in diameter measured 4.5 feet above ground level in any 10-year period.' Within the 75-foot Resource Protection sub-zone, 'there may be no cutting of vegetation... except to remove safety hazards.' Outside the Shoreland Zone, private-property tree removal is unregulated by the state. Public-property tree removal (street trees, park trees) and any municipal heritage-tree ordinance are local-only under 30-A MRS § 3001. Forest-practice tree harvest is regulated under Title 12 (Maine Forest Practices Act) for commercial timber operations.

Shoreland-buffer cutting violation: enforced by DEP and local Code Enforcement Officer with civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation per day and mandatory restoration plantings. Forest Practices Act violations under Title 12 are enforced by the Maine Forest Service.