York County requires no permit to remove a single tree, but clearing land that disturbs 5,000 square feet or more triggers an erosion-and-sediment-control plan reviewed by the York County Conservation District under 25 Pa Code Chapter 102.
There is no York County protected-tree permit for cutting a single tree on private property; that is a municipal matter. The genuine county-level control is on land-clearing and grading. Under the state Erosion and Sediment Control regulations (25 Pa Code Chapter 102, Clean Streams Law), any earth disturbance, including land clearing and grubbing, that totals 5,000 square feet or more requires a written E&S plan, and the York County Conservation District is the local delegated authority that reviews those plans and NPDES permit applications. Disturbances of one acre or more generally need NPDES permit coverage administered through the District. For removing trees inside county parks, York County Code Chapter 75 § 75-9 separately bars cutting or removing any tree or
Clearing 5,000+ square feet without a required E&S plan, or one acre without NPDES coverage, violates the Clean Streams Law and can bring DEP/District enforcement, stop-work orders, and civil penalties. Removing park trees without permission is a Chapter 75 summary
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York County, PA
The York County Solid Waste Authority actively encourages backyard composting and mulch-mowing and runs a county yard-waste drop-off at the Resource Recovery...
York County, PA
York County has no rule on artificial turf. Whether synthetic grass is allowed, and any permit or stormwater requirement, is decided by your borough, city, o...
York County, PA
York County does not require or ban native-plant landscaping. Native meadows and pollinator gardens are legal and encouraged, but any 'natural landscaping' e...
York County, PA
Pennsylvania places no restriction on collecting rainwater, and York County does not ban it. Rain barrels and cisterns for garden use are legal statewide; la...
York County, PA
York County imposes no countywide lawn-watering restriction. Limits, if any, are set by your water supplier (such as the York Water Company) or your municipa...
York County, PA
York County has no countywide weed ordinance. Noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation are declared a nuisance and abated by your borough, the City of York, or...
See how York County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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