Haverford, PA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Chapter 170 of the Haverford Township Code defines a public shade tree as any tree in or upon a public park, property, street, highway or avenue, including any part of a tree that extends within the lines of a public street. Section 170-3 applies its standards to every public shade tree in Haverford Township, including the portion of one that stands on private property.

Planting is permit-controlled. The written permit from the Township Manager designates the type of tree and the place where it goes, and the Township Manager can refuse a permit for any tree that is not suitable to the location, guided if needed by standards from the International Society of Arboriculture. Siting distances are fixed. No public shade tree goes within five feet of the edge of a driveway, and none goes nearer an intersection than 25 feet from the point where two public right-of-way lines meet, stretched to 30 feet on state highways.

New construction carries its own duty. On every new building site, the owner or contractor plants at least one public shade tree for every 30 feet of street frontage or fraction thereof, abutting the public right-of-way. Section 170-6 gives developers replacing trees a selection checklist that includes species longevity, hardiness, susceptibility to insect and disease attack, size at maturity and effect on soil retention.

The application goes to the Township Manager on a Township form and states the exact location and species of any tree affected. A permit fee is set by resolution of the Board of Commissioners, and the Township Manager can send the application to the Shade Tree Commission for review. Permitted work finishes within nine months if issued with a building permit, or within 60 days for all other work. Owners of private trees must also keep branches 12 feet above public walks for mature trees, nine feet for newly planted trees, and 14 feet above public streets.