Nassau County, NY Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Jurisdiction
- Dept. of Public Works
- Covers
- Trees, hedges, shrubbery on county roads
- Excludes
- Cities and first/second-class villages
- Cost recovery
- County may bill abutting owner
Summary
Nassau County's Department of Public Works controls trees, hedges and shrubbery growing between property lines along county roads, and the County Legislature can regulate planting, pruning, and removal by ordinance under Administrative Code § 12-4.2.
Except in cities and in villages of the first and second class all trees, hedges and shrubbery between the property lines on county roads as defined in this title and county roads constructed pursuant to article six of the highway law shall be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works. The County Legislature may by ordinance regulate the planting of such trees, hedges and shrubbery, the care, pruning or removal and the destruction, alteration or degradation of the health or appearance thereof.
b. Such ordinance may also provide for the care, pruning or removal of trees, hedges and shrubbery located on property abutting such roads by the owners or occupants of such abutting property when any such tree or trees, hedges or shrubbery are dangerous to such roads or to persons or vehicles using such roads and may prohibit or otherwise regulate the destruction, alteration or degradation of the health or appearance of such trees, hedges or shrubbery. Such ordinance may provide for notice to the owners of abutting property to care for, prune or remove such dangerous tree or trees, hedges or shrubbery or to replace trees, hedges and shrubbery that have been unlawfully destroyed, altered or degraded and that upon failure so to do within a period fixed in such ordinance, that the Department of Public Works may cause such tree or trees, 377 January 1, 2026
XII Department of Public Works
Full Breakdown
Under Administrative Code § 12-4.2, jurisdiction over trees, hedges and shrubbery between property lines on county roads belongs to the Department of Public Works, countywide, except within cities (Glen Cove, Long Beach) and villages of the first and second class. The County Legislature may pass an ordinance regulating planting, care, pruning and removal, and restricting unauthorized destruction or alteration of roadside vegetation. That ordinance may also require owners of property abutting a county road to prune or remove trees, hedges or shrubbery that endanger the road or its users, after county notice; if the owner fails to act, DPW may do the work itself and assess the cost against the property.
Violations & Fines
Failing to fix a dangerous roadside tree after county notice lets DPW step in and assess the repair cost against the property on the next tax bill, per § 12-4.2(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who controls trees along county roads in Nassau County?
What if I don't maintain a dangerous roadside tree?
Does this rule apply in every town and village?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the New York tree protection overview
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