Oakland County does not have a unified countywide tree ordinance for private property. Tree-protection authority rests with the 62 cities, villages, and townships. Major Oakland County tree-protection codes include Charter Township of Oakland Ch. 389 (Ord. 60, 1990), Bloomfield Township Ord. 608 (Tree Preservation), Bloomfield Hills Code Ch. 22, West Bloomfield Code Ch. 23, Farmington Hills Code Ch. 31, and Royal Oak Code Ch. 710 (Trees). Tree work in the public road right-of-way is regulated by the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC).
Each Oakland County tree ordinance generally has the same structural elements: (1) definitions of regulated/protected/landmark trees by DBH; (2) tree-removal permit requirement; (3) tree-protection barriers during construction; (4) replacement schedule; (5) penalties as municipal civil infractions. The Charter Township of Oakland's Ch. 389 is one of the oldest in the county (1990) and applied to most lots in the township. Bloomfield Township's Ord. 608 is among the strictest, with after-the-fact permit fees and mandatory replacement. Royal Oak Ch. 710 covers DPW tree replacement when removal is necessary for a public improvement. The Road Commission for Oakland County issues right-of-way work permits for tree trimming/removal along county roads.
Across Oakland County, violation of a tree ordinance is generally a municipal civil infraction. Civil fines are commonly $100–$500 for a first offense, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. Construction projects can be subjected to stop-work orders for removing trees without a permit, and certificates of occupancy can be withheld until replacement is verified.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Oakland County, MI
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