Washington, DC Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Special Tree threshold
- 55-inch trunk circumference or more
- Species removal path
- species listed by regulation as removable
- Fund payment alternative
- $35 per inch into Tree Fund
- Minimum fine
- $100 per inch of circumference
- Administering agency
- Mayor, via DDOT Urban Forestry
Summary
The District classifies any tree with a 55-inch or greater trunk circumference as a Special Tree, and bars removal without a Mayor-issued permit unless the tree's species has been designated by regulation as appropriate for removal.
It shall be unlawful for any person or nongovernmental entity, without a Special Tree removal permit issued by the Mayor, to top, cut down, remove, girdle, break, or destroy any Special Tree... The Mayor shall issue a Special Tree removal permit under this section where the applicant has:... (2) Shown that the Special Tree in question is of a species that has been identified, by regulation, as appropriate for removal;
Full Breakdown
Under D.C. Code § 8-651.04, it is unlawful for any person or nongovernmental entity to top, cut down, remove, girdle, break, or destroy a Special Tree (defined at § 8-651.02(5) as one with a trunk circumference of 55 inches or more) without a Special Tree removal permit from the Mayor. The Mayor must issue the permit if the applicant shows the tree is a Hazardous Tree, shows the tree's species has been identified by regulation as appropriate for removal, or pays into the Tree Fund an amount equal to $35 per inch of the tree's circumference. The Department of Transportation's Urban Forestry Division administers the program.
Violations & Fines
Removing, topping, girdling or destroying a Special Tree without a permit, or breaching a permit's conditions, is a violation subject to a fine of not less than $100 per inch of the tree's circumference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Special Tree be removed just because of its species?
What size tree counts as a protected Special Tree in D.C.?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia tree protection overview
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