Howard County does not require a permit to remove a single tree from an owner-occupied lot. Larger clearing is governed by the county's Forest Conservation program under the Maryland Forest Conservation Act, which requires a forest conservation plan and retention or replanting when development disturbs 40,000 square feet or more.
For everyday yard trees on private, owner-occupied property outside easements, no county tree-removal permit is required. When land is subdivided, graded or developed, County Code Title 16, Subtitle 12 implements the Maryland Forest Conservation Act. The Act aims to conserve forest by making it part of site planning; it defines forest conservation as the retention of existing forest or creation of new forest at prescribed levels. Projects disturbing 40,000 square feet or more must submit a forest stand delineation and forest conservation plan and meet afforestation or reforestation obligations backed by surety. Roadside trees in the right-of-way need a separate state DNR permit.
Clearing regulated forest without an approved conservation plan can require reforestation, mitigation surety and penalties enforced by the Department of Planning and Zoning; roadside-tree violations are penalized by the state DNR.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
howard-county-md
Howard County allows residential backyard composting and actively promotes it. The county runs a Feed the Green Bin curbside food-scrap collection and sells ...
howard-county-md
Howard County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or requiring artificial turf for residential yards. Synthetic lawns are generally allowed, but becaus...
howard-county-md
Howard County places no restriction on planting native or pollinator gardens. Maryland's low-impact landscaping law (House Bill 322, 2021) bars homeowners as...
howard-county-md
Howard County does not ban rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are legal and actively promoted through the county's Live Green Howard and stormwa...
howard-county-md
Howard County has no year-round odd/even watering ban. Water use is limited only when the state declares a drought. Under Maryland's Level One Mandatory Rest...
howard-county-md
Howard County's adopted Property Maintenance Code requires exterior premises to be kept free of weeds and rank plant growth, but it applies only to rental an...
See how Howard County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.