Massachusetts Scenic Roads Act protects trees and stone walls along designated scenic roads, requiring public hearing before any removal or alteration.
G.L. c. 40 Section 15C, the Scenic Roads Act, allows municipalities to designate roads as scenic. Once designated, no tree within the right-of-way may be cut or removed and no stone wall destroyed without prior written consent of the planning board after a public hearing with notice. The protection is in addition to public shade tree protections under c. 87. While designation is local, the procedural protections and statewide standard for hearings are dictated by state law and cannot be weakened by municipalities.
Cutting or removal without planning board consent violates state law and exposes the violator to injunctive relief and replacement costs.
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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See how Arlington's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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