Richmond County, NY Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

While NYC does not operate a standalone 'heritage tree' ordinance like many California cities, several overlapping programs effectively designate protected specimen trees on Staten Island. The NYC Parks 'Great Trees of New York City' initiative (successor to the 1985 program) recognizes more than 200 notable individual trees citywide, including several on Staten Island — the Conference House yellowwood, the Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House black walnut, and the Greenbelt's white oaks. Additionally, the entire Special Natural Area District (SNAD) under NYC Zoning Resolution §105-00 effectively treats every 6-inch+ DBH tree as a protected resource on SI's SNAD parcels (10%+ of the borough including Todt Hill, Lighthouse Hill, Butler Manor Woods, Staten Island Greenbelt buffer). Trees on Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)-designated properties require LPC Certificates of Appropriateness before removal or major work per NYC Admin Code §25-305. The Greenbelt Conservancy actively manages and inventories significant trees in Staten Island's 2,800-acre Greenbelt. Construction within the Tree Protection Zone of any protected tree requires root zone barriers and soil-compaction prevention per NYC Parks specifications.