Providence, RI Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City forester
- Where to apply
- Carriage House, Roger Williams Park
- Species/placement approval
- City forester has final say
- Tree lawn defined
- Strip between property line and roadway
- Penalty basis
- Each tree = separate violation
Summary
Planting a tree in the tree lawn, park strip, or any public street in Providence requires a permit from the city forester before you dig.
A permit shall be required for planting, spraying, pruning, cutting above ground, removing, or otherwise disturbing any tree on any street, park, or other public place.(d)The city forester shall issue any permit provided for herein if the proposed method and workmanship shall be of a satisfactory nature and the project shall be consistent with this chapter. Any permit granted shall contain a definite date of expiration and the work shall be completed in the time allowed on the permit and in the manner as therein described. Any permit shall be void if its terms are violated.(e)The city forester shall be notified by the bearer of said permit upon satisfactory completion of designated work.(f)Planting:(1)The application required herein shall state the number of trees to be set out or planted in public places, the location, grade, species, cultivar or variety of each tree, the method of planting, and such other information as the city forester shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination of whether a permit should be issued.(2)The city forester shall have the right to make the final determination as to location, species, cultivar or variety of each tree and the method of planting before issuing said permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
Providence Code § 23½-27 makes a permit mandatory for planting, pruning, cutting, removing, or otherwise disturbing any tree on a street, park, or other public place. You apply through the division of grounds maintenance services at the Carriage House in Roger Williams Park, stating the number, location, grade, species, cultivar, and planting method for each tree. The city forester has final say on species and placement before signing off, and the permit is void if its terms aren't followed.
Violations & Fines
Planting or disturbing a public tree without a permit violates Ch. 23½; § 23½-3 makes each affected tree a separate violation, subject to court action plus required replacement of the tree at a size and species the city forester sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant a street tree in front of my Providence house myself?
Who decides what species goes in the tree lawn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle parkway planting.