Providence, RI Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected size threshold
- 32 inches diameter at 4.5 feet
- Enforcing official
- City Forester
- Removal permit review
- 30 days for City Forester decision
- Unauthorized removal penalty
- 3 replacement trees required
- Governing law
- Providence Zoning Ordinance, Article 15
Summary
Providence's zoning ordinance bars removal of any tree 32 inches or more in diameter without City Forester approval, protecting large legacy trees citywide during development.
A significant tree is any tree that measures 32 inches or more in diameter at four and one-half feet above the ground. No significant tree may be removed without the permission of the City Forester. Removal of a significant tree without City Forester approval is a violation of this ordinance.
2. Any person wishing to remove a significant tree shall file a request with the City Forester. In order to grant permission to remove a significant tree, the City Forester shall make one or more of the following findings within 30 days of receipt of the request:
a. The tree is in poor health or diseased with an expected life span less than two years.
b. The removal of the tree is unavoidable because the tree poses a danger to property or human health, safety, and welfare.
c. The tree prevents the property owner from developing the property in conformance with this ordinance, and there are no alternatives to removal of the tree. In this case, the City Forester shall not approve removal of the tree until a permit for new construction has been approved.
3. When a significant tree is removed with City Forester approval under 2.a or b above, the property
Full Breakdown
Under Providence's zoning ordinance, any tree measuring 32 inches or more in diameter at four and a half feet above ground counts as a significant tree, and removing one without the City Forester's written permission is a code violation. Property owners who want to take one down must file a removal request; the Forester has 30 days to approve it, and only for poor health with a life expectancy under two years, unavoidable danger to people or property, or when the tree blocks development with no alternative. Approved removals require planting at least one replacement large tree, three if approved without meeting those findings or removed without permission at all.
Violations & Fines
Removing a significant tree without City Forester approval is a violation of the ordinance; unauthorized removal triggers a mandatory three-large-tree replacement requirement on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a large tree on my own property in Providence?
What happens if I remove a significant tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle protected tree species.