NYC Administrative Code section 18-129 and Title 56 of the Rules of the City of New York make every street tree, park tree, and certain protected species on private property subject to Department of Parks and Recreation work permits before pruning, removal, or root disturbance.
Admin Code section 18-129, often paired with 56 RCNY chapter 1, forbids any person from injuring, removing, or pruning a tree under NYC Parks jurisdiction without a DPR work permit. Jurisdiction includes every street tree, park tree, and any tree on city-owned property regardless of size. NYC Stormwater Manual chapter 4 protects native species like American elm, white oak, sweetgum, and London plane. Construction within five feet of a protected tree requires a Tree Protection Plan with chain-link fencing per 56 RCNY 1-04. Title 28 of the Building Code references DPR conditions in section 28-104.7.10. Protected species near wetlands also fall under New York Tidal Wetlands Act ECL article 25.
Damaging or removing a protected tree without a DPR permit violates Admin Code 18-146 with penalties from $250 to $15,000 depending on tree size, plus mandatory restitution at appraised value. Section 18-147 lets DPR sue for full replacement cost.
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