Prince George's County, MD Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Section 23-141(b) requires that 'the permittee shall be required to plant roadside trees within the limits of the permit area and shall be responsible for all costs associated with such planting,' with an engineering plan showing tree locations, species, and coordination with driveway aprons, street lights and utilities submitted to the Urban Design Division of the Park and Planning Commission and approved by the Department.

Section 23-141(c) lists prohibited acts toward any roadside tree, including placing 'salt, brine, oil, herbicide, or other substances injurious to roadside trees,' building a fire near a tree, operating equipment in a way that damages a tree, attaching wires or signs to a tree, and leaving less than two feet of open space around a tree's base except where an existing curb or sidewalk limits it.

Section 23-141(d) requires Department permission before anyone may 'plant, spray, or trim any roadside tree,' place stone, concrete or other material in the right-of-way that could block air and water to a tree, excavate within a tree's branch spread or cut roots over one inch in diameter, or remove a tree-protection guard or device.

Section 23-141(h) gives the Director of Public Works and Transportation authority to require utilities to prune, top or remove a roadside tree, and lets the utility choose between temporarily removing its overhead wires within 48 hours of notice or performing the tree work itself. Section 23-141(j) puts the burden on private property owners to remove dead or dying trees whose branches overhang the right-of-way and create a public nuisance, once the Department gives written notice of a compliance deadline.