Bethlehem, PA Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Bethlehem's tree-removal-permit framework centers on Article 910 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem (Trees), administered by the Bureau of Urban Forestry within the Department of Public Works under the City Forester (Tree City USA 30+ years). Article 910.04(a) provides that no person shall plant, move, spray, cut, remove, prune, fertilize, inject, climb with spikes or rope, or otherwise disturb any tree on any 'public area' — defined at 910.01(b) as 'all parks, streets, and any planting area between streets and property lines' — without first obtaining a permit from the Director of Public Works. Article 910.05(b) imposes a $25 non-refundable application fee per property. Article 910.04(d) requires the permit to be posted at the jobsite, visible from the public right-of-way, until final inspection. Article 910.10 requires a separate Bethlehem Arborist License for any individual performing the work, issued only after passing a City Forester exam or submitting current ISA certification, with a $50 non-refundable application fee, a $25/year commercial license fee, and minimum insurance ($1M general liability, $1M products/completed operations, workers' compensation per statute). Property owners may obtain a $5/year owner-only license under 910.10. For routine removal of a dead, diseased, or hazardous tree on a private residential lot outside the public right-of-way, no Article 910 permit is required. Land-development sites have additional Bureau of Urban Forestry review under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance.