Albany requires a permit from the Department of General Services (DGS) Forestry Division before any street tree or city park tree is pruned, removed, or planted. The Albany Tree Commission, established by city ordinance, advises on the urban forest. Street trees — those in the right-of-way between sidewalk and curb — are city property; unauthorized removal carries replacement-value penalties.
Albany City Code Chapter 337 (Trees) governs the urban forest in the public right-of-way and city parks. Every "street tree" — defined as any tree in the public right-of-way, including the planting strip between sidewalk and curb (the "tree lawn") — is city property. The Department of General Services Forestry Division, working with the Albany Tree Commission, has exclusive jurisdiction to plant, prune, treat, or remove these trees. No private property owner, utility, contractor, or developer may prune above 4 inches in diameter, remove, or plant a street tree without first obtaining a written permit from DGS Forestry.
The Albany Tree Commission was established by city ordinance to advise the Mayor, Common Council, and DGS on urban forestry policy: species selection for street tree planting, the city's response to invasive pests (Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Spotted Lanternfly), and standards for construction near trees. Albany has been a Tree City USA community for decades, which requires a tree ordinance, a forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, a tree board or department, and an annual Arbor Day observance.
Permit applications for street tree work are submitted to DGS Forestry. The application identifies the tree, the reason for the work (dead/dying, structural defect, conflict with utility, construction), and the proposed contractor (who must be insured and qualified). DGS staff inspect the tree before issuing a permit. If removal is approved, the property owner or developer is typically responsible for replacement — either replanting a city-approved species or paying a fee-in-lieu equal to the appraised value of the removed tree. Heritage trees (over 30 inches DBH or designated for historical significance) receive heightened review. Trees on private property are not directly regulated by Chapter 337 except where required to be preserved by an approved site plan under the USDO.
Unauthorized pruning or removal of a street tree is a violation of City Code Chapter 337. Penalties include the tree's appraised replacement value (typically $1,500–$10,000+ for a mature shade tree, calculated by the ISA Trunk Formula Method), plus per-tree fines of $250–$1,000 and possible misdemeanor charges for willful destruction. Contractors and utilities that damage city trees can be barred from future work in the right-of-way. Report unauthorized tree work to DGS at (518) 434-5995 or via 311/SeeClickFix.
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