Somerville, MA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

1, "Protection of private significant trees during construction," requires that once the Inspectional Services Department, Engineering Department, Department of Public Works, Water and Sewer Department, or Parking Department issues a permit, the permit holder must take reasonable precautions to protect any significant tree on the lot and keep it free from harm caused by the permitted work. Outdoor construction activity requiring a permit must use industry-standard tree protection measures for any significant tree on the lot, as directed by the tree warden. Before construction starts, the contractor must create a tree protection plan subject to the tree warden's review, approval, and amendment, and the approved protection measures must be installed before work begins, stay in place throughout, and only be removed once construction is finished; the tree warden can order changes to measures found insufficient.

"Significant tree" is defined in Sec. 12-102 as any living tree that is either not an invasive plant and at least eight inches in diameter at breast height (DBH), or an invasive plant other than Tree of Heaven at least twenty-four inches DBH. The whole framework was enacted by Ord. No. 2025-05 on May 8, 2025, replacing the prior 2019 tree article, and is administered by the city's tree warden, an office appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council for a three-year term.