NYC does not maintain a formal 'Heritage Tree' registry, but NYC Parks protects all street and park trees under §18-129, and the Great Trees of New York City list recognizes notable specimens. Landmark district trees receive LPC review.
Unlike some cities, NYC does not have a formal Heritage Tree ordinance. Instead, all street and park trees are protected under NYC Admin Code §18-129, and notable specimens are recognized through the Great Trees of New York City program, which lists over 120 citywide examples including several in Brooklyn (Magnolia grandiflora on Lafayette Ave designated a NYC Living Landmark in 1970; Camperdown Elm in Prospect Park). Trees within Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) historic districts — Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill — require LPC review for removal of significant landscape features. Natural areas like Prospect Park's Lullwater and Forever Wild sites have strict removal prohibitions. Private property specimen trees have no statutory protection outside these contexts. The NYC Cool Streets initiative and MillionTreesNYC legacy aim to preserve mature canopy; removal of large private trees during development may trigger SEQRA review.
Damaging a Great Tree or LPC-protected landscape element: standard §18-129 penalties ($5,000–$15,000+) plus potential LPC enforcement action.
Kings County, NY
NYC strictly regulates commercial vehicle parking. Commercial vehicles may park at meters for up to 3 hours and are banned from residential areas overnight (...
Kings County, NY
Brooklyn pools must be enclosed by a self-closing, self-latching barrier at least 4 feet high per NYC Building Code and Health Code §165.57.
Kings County, NY
Feeding pigeons, squirrels, raccoons, or other wildlife that creates unsanitary conditions is prohibited in Brooklyn under NYC Health Code §153.09.
Kings County, NY
Brooklyn residents may keep backyard hens, but roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigs, goats, and sheep are prohibited under NYC Health Code §161.01.
Kings County, NY
NYC Health Code §161.01 prohibits most wild, exotic, and farm animals. Ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, pot-bellied pigs, venomous snakes, large reptiles, ...
Kings County, NY
All consumer fireworks are illegal in New York City under New York Penal Law §270.00. This includes sparklers longer than 10 inches, firecrackers, Roman cand...
See how Kings County's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.