Tree Protection in Massachusetts (2026)
22 rules on the books across Massachusetts, 17 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Heritage & Protected Trees
Extra protections for old, large, or historically significant trees, including the penalties for removing them without approval.
Massachusetts: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsMassachusetts Scenic Roads Act protects trees and stone walls along designated scenic roads, requiring public hearing…
Read full rule →Bristol County
Heavy RestrictionsHeritage and specimen trees in Bristol County receive enhanced protection under local bylaws and MGL c. 87. Historic…
Read full rule →Norfolk County
Heavy RestrictionsNorfolk County has no heritage tree program. Brookline designates heritage trees under its tree bylaw. Statewide, MA…
Read full rule →Springfield
Heavy RestrictionsSpringfield, Massachusetts bans cutting or removing any tree 75 years or older, or three feet or more in diameter…
Read full rule →Cambridge
Significant RestrictionsCambridge's Tree Protection Ordinance singles out 'Exceptional Trees,' meaning any protected tree thirty inches or more…
Read full rule →Plymouth County
Some RestrictionsPlymouth County designates no heritage trees. The strongest state protection is the Scenic Roads Act, MGL c.40 §15C: on…
Read full rule →Quincy
Some RestrictionsQuincy has no landmark or heritage-tree registry: instead, Chapter 311 protects any tree over 8 inches DBH as a…
Read full rule →Somerville
Some RestrictionsSomerville's 2025 tree ordinance protects "significant trees" (8+ inch DBH natives, or 24+ inch DBH invasive species…
Read full rule →Protected Tree Species
Specific native species (oak, sycamore, walnut, juniper) protected by city ordinance, diameter thresholds, removal permits, and replacement ratios.
Springfield
Significant RestrictionsSpringfield requires a City Forester permit before anyone, even the property owner, cuts, prunes, or removes a…
Read full rule →Boston
Some RestrictionsBoston's Parks and Recreation Department protects public shade trees and city-owned trees under Code § 7-4.7: no public…
Read full rule →Chicopee
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, a protected tree is any tree the Tree Warden has determined to be of high value…
Read full rule →Medford
Some RestrictionsMedford's site development standards direct developers to design around rare and endangered species habitat and to…
Read full rule →Parkway Planting
Permits and rules for planting in the parkway strip between sidewalk and curb, including approved species lists and Bureau of Street Services standards.
Chicopee
Significant RestrictionsIn the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, a property owner who wants a tree planted in a public right-of-way must…
Read full rule →Worcester
Significant RestrictionsPlanting any tree in a Worcester public way, or within twenty feet of one on adjoining private land, requires the tree…
Read full rule →Brockton
Some RestrictionsDuring street opening work, Brockton contractors cannot remove any tree or shrub in a public planting strip without the…
Read full rule →Fall River
Some RestrictionsFall River's Tree Ordinance gives the City exclusive control over street trees, shrubs and plantings in every street…
Read full rule →Framingham
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Framingham, subdivision developers must plant a street tree every 20 to 30 feet along new roads, with at…
Read full rule →Haverhill
Some RestrictionsNew nonresidential, multifamily, and mixed-use development in the City of Haverhill must plant street trees under City…
Read full rule →Somerville
Some RestrictionsSomerville's Native Planting Ordinance requires at least half of the street trees the city plants each year to be…
Read full rule →Springfield
Some RestrictionsPlanting a tree in the Springfield, Massachusetts tree belt or on other city-owned land requires a free City Forester…
Read full rule →Newton
Light RestrictionsIn Newton's Village Center Overlay District zones, new development may not plant a street tree in the public…
Read full rule →Southborough
Light RestrictionsIn Southborough, the Tree Warden decides what gets planted on public ground. Section 153-4 sets a policy of encouraging…
Read full rule →