Landscaping Rules in Massachusetts (2026)

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 87 establishes statewide rules governing the trimming, pruning, and care of public…

In Massachusetts, trees within or along a public way are public shade trees that may not be cut, trimmed, or removed by…

Pruning or trimming branches on a public shade or city-owned tree in Springfield, Massachusetts requires a City…

In the City of Everett, Massachusetts, Section 13A-62 makes any tree limb over a public sidewalk lower than ten (10)…

Fall River requires property owners bordering public streets to prune trees so branches don't block streetlights…

Lawrence property owners must keep tree and shrub branches trimmed back from public sidewalks, streets and…

Trimming trees on your own land needs no permit anywhere in Plymouth County. But public shade trees along a road or…

Pruning a public shade tree or city tree in Somerville requires a free permit from the tree warden under Sec. 12-105.2…

Worcester property owners must keep their shrubs, brush and trees from growing over the sidewalk or street in a way…

Boston Code § 7-4.7(D) puts the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation in charge of trimming shade trees standing in the…

MGL Chapter 87 mandates a public hearing and tree warden approval before removing any public shade tree, with specific…

Removing a public shade tree in Lowell requires action by the tree warden and, under MGL c. 87, sec. 3, a posted and…

No one may cut, trim, or remove a public shade tree in Boston without written approval from the city's Tree Warden, per…

In the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, removing a healthy tree from City property takes a petition to the Tree Warden…

In the City of Everett, Massachusetts, a tree permit from the Tree Warden is required for any project that will remove…

On roads the Framingham City Council has designated scenic, no tree over eight inches in trunk diameter may be cut for…

Lawrence vests control over shade trees on city streets and ways in the board of park commissioners, not individual…

No one may cut, trim or top a tree standing in a Medford public way without first getting permission from the tree…

Removing a "significant tree" (8+ inch DBH, or an invasive species other than Tree of Heaven at 24+ inches) from…

Springfield, Massachusetts requires a City Forester permit to cut, prune or remove any public shade tree, and gives…

Removal of public trees in Attleboro is regulated under the proposed/adopted tree protection ordinance. The ordinance…

Tree removal regulations in Bristol County are handled at the municipal level. Public tree removal requires approval…

Brockton may require permits for tree removal in certain circumstances. Trees in the public right-of-way are city…

Cutting down a 'Significant Tree,' anything six inches or more in trunk diameter on a Cambridge lot, needs a permit…

Tree removal in Chelsea is regulated through the city's Public Works Department and Zoning Ordinance. No specific tree…

Removing a public tree in Fall River, Massachusetts for construction requires a Board of Park Commissioners permit, and…

Tree removal in Norfolk County is governed by state law (MGL c. 87 for public trees) and municipal bylaws. Public shade…

You may remove trees on your own land in Plymouth County without a county permit. But no public shade tree in or beside…

Before removing a significant tree (over 8 inches DBH) on a development project, Quincy property owners must submit a…

Taunton's Zoning Ordinance bars clearing land or clear-cutting trees, along with excavation, gravel removal or filling…

Weymouth does not have a comprehensive private-property tree removal permit ordinance. Removal near wetlands (within…

Public shade trees in Worcester are protected under MGL Chapter 87 and require a public hearing before removal. Private…

New Bedford has no stand-alone tree-cutting permit for private land, but any project large enough to require Site Plan…

In Southborough, the tree bylaw on removal covers public trees: § 153-3 makes the Tree Warden, or that official's…

Boston property owners must remove rank weeds, invasive vegetation, and sidewalk weeds under City Code Ch. 16. Noxious…

Brockton bars weeds, grass, hay, straw, vines and other combustible growth from piling up on any roof, yard, vacant…

In the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, any parcel, including a vacant one, must be kept free from overgrowth at all…

Lowell Code of Ordinances section 227-3(L) (Overgrowth) makes it unlawful to allow weeds to reach 18 or more inches on…

New Bedford caps grass, bushes, and weeds along sidewalks and street frontage at three inches under Code of Ordinances…

Newton treats untrimmed weeds, grass, bushes or shrubbery as a public nuisance once they sit in public view for more…

Norfolk County does not enforce weed abatement. Individual municipalities enforce property maintenance under MGL c. 111…

Quincy, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) treats dead vegetation over 12 inches covering more than half of a visible front…

Taunton caps yard vegetation at 12 inches within 100 feet of any residence under Code § 350-4(B), because taller growth…

Waltham requires property owners to control noxious weeds and invasive vegetation under the property maintenance code…

Worcester caps vegetation at 12 inches under the nuisance-on-property law, Chapter 8, § 42(b)(2), whenever taller…

Lawrence's property maintenance code requires every owner to keep weeds, grass and shrubs trimmed and free from…

Springfield, Massachusetts sets no numeric grass-height limit; instead the Commissioner of Public Health can declare…

The Massachusetts Water Management Act and related MassDEP drought regulations authorize statewide outdoor watering…

Under a drought declaration, Cambridge Municipal Code § 13.08.090 imposes four escalating watering-day tiers: Level 1…

The City of Framingham's Department of Public Works may restrict outdoor water use, including irrigation systems…

In the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, the Superintendent, with the Mayor's approval, can declare a water emergency…

In the City of Haverhill, outdoor watering is not restricted year-round, but once the Water Division declares a State…

Lowell has no year-round watering ban, but Code of Ordinances Chapter 272, Part 5 (Restrictions on Use of Water…

Plymouth County runs no water system. Outdoor watering limits come from each town or district's Water Management Act…

Revere has no standing lawn-watering schedule; instead Section 13.04.121 lets the superintendent of public works…

Taunton's Municipal Council can vote to ban lawn watering, car washing and pool filling citywide whenever drought or…

In Southborough, the Select Board can establish a water emergency to conserve supply and protect the water system…

Somerville's Green Score standard for new construction and major renovations awards a bonus credit toward the required…

Southborough treats rainwater capture as a design technique, not a separate permit. The Lower Impact Development bylaw…

Medford's site development performance standards require developers who clear vegetation on a qualifying project to…

Somerville's Native Planting Ordinance requires the city itself, not private property owners, to favor native species…

Southborough encourages native species in all landscaping plans and prohibits planting a printed list of invasive…

Boston encourages native plantings through Article 37 green building standards and the Grow Boston Greener program. No…

Norfolk County has no native plant rule. MA Pollinator Plan and Stretch Code encourage natives. Brookline and Quincy…

Native plantings are encouraged in Waltham and fully legal in residential yards. Massachusetts maintains a Prohibited…

Somerville bans artificial turf and artificial plants from required landscaped areas. Zoning Ordinance §10.3.5.h.v…

No Plymouth County ordinance governs artificial turf, and towns rarely restrict it on ordinary lots. But installing…

In the City of Framingham, depositing garbage, decayed meat, fish, fruit, vegetables or any other decomposing substance…

Medford allows private backyard composting once the bin meets Sec. 6-119's construction and siting standards: durable…

Fall River, Massachusetts lets residents run private compost bins at home but sets placement standards: bins must sit…

Revere's city council ordered the mayor to build a subsidized curbside composting program, with pickup at least as…