Lehigh County issues no tree-removal permit. In Allentown, removing or cutting any shade tree in public lands or the right-of-way requires a permit from the Construction Operations Manager, secured five days ahead. Private-yard trees need no city permit.
Pennsylvania counties do not zone, so Lehigh County has no tree-removal permit. Allentown's Chapter 597 regulates public shade trees only: no one may prune, spray, plant, remove, or cut a shade tree in public lands or the public right-of-way without first obtaining a permit from the Construction Operations Manager, secured at least five days in advance. Removal work must be completed within 60 days, and unauthorized removal requires replacement trees whose combined trunk diameters equal the tree removed (§597-5A). Right-of-way work must be done by a licensed City tree surgeon (§597-7). Trees wholly on private property fall outside this permit. Large land clearing may still trigger a Chapter 102 erosion plan.
Removing a public shade tree without a permit is a summary offense: fines up to $1,000 per infraction plus restitution equal to the appraised value of the tree.
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