Gaithersburg, MD Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Under Chapter 22A of the Montgomery County Code, specimen trees are defined as trees measuring 30 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH) for most species, or 24 inches DBH for certain slow-growing species including American beech, white oak, and southern red oak. Specimen trees receive the highest level of protection. On any property subject to a forest conservation plan, removal of a specimen tree requires approval from the Montgomery County Planning Board after evaluation of whether the tree can reasonably be preserved. The applicant must demonstrate that avoidance is not feasible. When removal is approved, mitigation requirements are significantly enhanced, often requiring replacement at ratios higher than the standard one-to-one. The county also recognizes champion trees, which are the largest known individual of a species within the county, registered through the Maryland Big Tree Program. Public land trees are additionally protected by M-NCPPC regulations, which prohibit any damage or removal without park approval. Trees protected under the Forest Conservation Law also have root zone protections during nearby construction, requiring tree save fencing and limits on grading within the critical root zone.