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Bethlehem, PA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Enforcing agency
Director of Public Works / City Forester
Permit fee
$25 nonrefundable, per property
Post-work step
Notify Bureau of Urban Forestry in 10 days
No permit needed
To cultivate or water
First offense penalty
$200 fine or 30 days
Developer duty
Pays planting cost in new developments

Summary

Anyone who wants to plant a tree in a Bethlehem public right-of-way, including the parkway strip between the sidewalk and the curb, needs a permit from the Director of Public Works first. Codified Ordinances § 910.04 requires the Director's written permission before planting, moving, or otherwise working on any tree in a public area, with a $25 application fee.

No person shall hereafter plant, move, spray, cut, remove, prune, fertilize, inject, climb with spikes or with the assistance of rope, remove or damage any guard or device placed to protect any tree, cut above or below ground, disturb or alter any tree on any public area of the City of Bethlehem, nor cause such acts to be done by others, without first obtaining permission from the Director, who shall issue the permission if, in his judgment, the work is necessary, and the proposed methods of workmanship are of a satisfactory nature. A permit shall not be required to cultivate and water. All tree work shall be carried out in conformity with the current Arboricultural Specifications and Standards or Practice prepared by the City Forester.

View official code

Full Breakdown

01(b)). 01(j)). 03 gives the Director authority to plant and maintain those trees, with questions of species, disease, or pest management referred to the City Forester. 04(a) requires a written permit from the Director, who approves it if the work is necessary and the planting method is satisfactory; cultivating and watering alone need no permit. 05 sets a nonrefundable $25 permit fee per property and requires the permittee to notify the Bureau of Urban Forestry within 10 days of finishing the work so it can be inspected.

16 shifts the planting cost and the guarantee-period maintenance to the developer; on an existing established street, the City bears that cost. Property owners who plant their own tree in the right-of-way still need the Director's approval and must follow the City's current Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice.

Violations & Fines

Violating any provision of Article 910, including planting a street tree without the required permit, is punishable under § 910.99: a $200 fine or 30 days in jail for a first offense, $500 or 60 days for a second, and $1,000 or 90 days for a third or later offense. The Director can also void a permit outright if its terms are violated (§ 910.05(a)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the strip between the sidewalk and street in Bethlehem?
Yes. That planting strip is a public area under Codified Ordinances § 910.01(b), and § 910.04(a) requires written permission from the Director of Public Works before anyone plants, moves, or otherwise works on a tree there. The permit costs $25 and is issued if the Director finds the work necessary and the planting method satisfactory.
What is a 'street tree' under Bethlehem's code?
Section 910.01(j) defines a street tree as any tree whose base lies wholly or partially within a public right-of-way, whether that's the parkway strip, a park, or another public area the Director of Public Works controls under Article 910.
Who pays to plant trees along a new street in Bethlehem?
If the City decides to plant trees in the right-of-way of a proposed development, § 910.16 makes the developer pay for purchasing and planting them and for their upkeep during the guarantee period; on an already-established street, the City itself covers that cost.
What happens if I plant a tree in the right-of-way without a permit?
You're violating Article 910, which carries a $200 fine or 30 days in jail for a first offense under § 910.99, rising to $500 or 60 days for a second offense and $1,000 or 90 days for a third or later offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bethlehem

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSignificant Restrictions

All Bethlehem rules

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