Delaware County issues no tree-removal permit. For street trees, the local shade-tree commission controls removal under state law; for private trees, a permit is needed only where a municipality's tree-conservation or zoning ordinance requires one. Many Delco towns have no private-tree permit at all.
There is no countywide tree-removal permit in Delaware County. Under the PA Shade Tree Act (53 P.S. §2811), a municipality's shade-tree commission has exclusive control of shade trees in the public right-of-way, so removing a street tree requires the commission's action and, under 53 P.S. §2813, published public notice. For trees on private land, permit requirements exist only if the individual borough or township has adopted a tree-conservation, woodland-preservation, riparian-buffer or steep-slope ordinance under the Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247). Where such rules exist, they may require a permit, an arborist report, or replacement plantings for removing significant or specimen trees. Elsewhere, private-tree removal is unregulated.
Removing a protected public shade tree without authorization draws municipal fines that become a lien on the offender's property under the Shade Tree Act. Violating a local tree-conservation ordinance can bring per-tree penalties and mandatory replacement plantings.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting is legal across Delaware County and encouraged by the county's Act 101 recycling program. There is no county compost permit, but municipa...
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Delaware County sets no rule on artificial turf. Whether synthetic grass is allowed, and any impervious-coverage or stormwater conditions, is decided by your...
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Delaware County has no rule against native-plant or meadow landscaping. Native gardens are encouraged for stormwater and pollinator benefits, but you must st...
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Rainwater harvesting is legal in Pennsylvania and Delaware County has no ban. The county and its municipalities generally encourage rain barrels and cisterns...
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Delaware County publishes no lawn-watering schedule. Mandatory outdoor-water restrictions in Pennsylvania take effect only when the Governor declares a droug...
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There is no Delaware County weed ordinance. Each municipality bans noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation through its own property-maintenance code. Lower Ch...
See how Delaware County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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