Medford, MA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Priority protects
- specimen trees, tree stands, perimeter vegetation
- Habitat duty
- avoid impacts to rare/endangered species
- Required before clearing
- temporary protective fencing
- Covers
- nonresidential/6+ unit special-permit projects
- Checked at
- occupancy permit stage
Summary
Medford's site development standards direct developers to design around rare and endangered species habitat and to prioritize preserving existing tree stands, perimeter trees, and specimen trees. Section 94-6.4.6 requires protective fencing around retained vegetation during clearing and construction, binding nonresidential and qualifying multi-unit projects that require a special permit or site plan approval.
c.Sites shall be designed in such a way as to avoid impacts to rare and endangered species and wildlife habitat on a site, and to maintain contiguous forested areas. ... 6.Preservation of existing vegetation. Priority shall be given to the preservation of existing stands of trees, trees at site perimeter, contiguous vegetation with adjacent sites (particularly existing sites protected through conservation restrictions), and specimen trees. Understory vegetation beneath the dripline of preserved trees shall be retained in an undisturbed state. During clearing and/or construction activities, all vegetation to be retained shall be surrounded by temporary protective fencing or other measures before any clearing or grading occurs, and maintained until all construction work is completed and the site is cleaned up. Barriers shall be large enough to encompass the essential zone of all vegetation to be protected. All vegetation within the protective fencing shall be retained in an undisturbed state.
Full Breakdown
Item 4c of Sec. 94-6.4.6 requires that sites be designed to avoid impacts to rare and endangered species and wildlife habitat and to maintain contiguous forested areas. Item 6, 'Preservation of existing vegetation,' gives priority to preserving existing stands of trees, trees at the site perimeter, vegetation contiguous with adjacent sites (particularly land already protected by conservation restrictions), and specimen trees. It requires that understory vegetation beneath the dripline of preserved trees be retained undisturbed, and that all vegetation slated for retention be surrounded by temporary protective fencing or other barriers before any clearing or grading begins, with the fencing maintained until construction is complete and the site is cleaned up; barriers must be large enough to encompass the essential root and canopy zone of the protected vegetation.
Item 5 separately lets the Board require historical commission or Massachusetts Historical Commission review where archaeological or historical resources may be affected. These duties apply only to nonresidential uses and multiple-dwelling or mixed-use projects of six or more units under special permit or site plan review per Sec. 94-6.4.2, and compliance is verified before an occupancy permit issues under Sec. 94-6.4.13.
Violations & Fines
The Community Development Board or SPGA can withhold or condition the occupancy permit under Sec. 94-6.4.13 if protective fencing was not installed before clearing or if preserved specimen trees, habitat, or contiguous forest were disturbed in violation of item 6. A monitoring program can be imposed post-permit, and the Board can require replacement plantings or design changes for a project that fails to protect designated habitat or trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must a Medford developer fence off trees before clearing a site?
Does Medford's ordinance protect endangered species habitat directly?
What counts as a protected 'specimen tree' under this section?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
Compare Medford to another location·View the Massachusetts tree protection overview
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