Removing or significantly pruning any NYC street tree requires Parks Department authorization under Admin Code §18-129. Private property trees in Special Natural Area Districts (SNAD) over 6 inches DBH require permits under Local Law 3 of 2010. Penalties for unauthorized removal reach $15,000 per tree.
NYC street trees — approximately 600,000 mapped in the citywide tree census — are under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department. Any removal, pruning, or work within the tree's root zone requires written permission from Parks. Property owners may request tree removal through 311 if a street tree is dead, hazardous, or causing significant damage, but the Parks Department makes the final determination. For pruning, property owners must hire a Parks-approved tree contractor. Under Local Law 3 of 2010, private property trees in SNAD areas (primarily Staten Island and parts of the Bronx and Queens) with a DBH of 6 inches or more require a Parks Department Tree Work Permit before removal. Replacement planting is typically required — often at a 2:1 caliper inch ratio or payment into a tree fund ($2,000+ per tree). Construction projects near street trees must install tree protection zones (TPZ) per Parks Department specifications. The FDNY can authorize emergency tree removal when a tree poses an immediate threat.
Unauthorized removal of street tree: $500–$15,000 based on appraised value. Damage to a street tree: full restoration cost plus penalties. Working within TPZ without approval: violation and fine. SNAD violations carry separate penalties. Adjudicated at OATH.
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