Richmond County, NY Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Richmond County has NYC's largest tree canopy outside of Van Cortlandt Park, and tree protection is correspondingly robust. Street trees and trees on any city-owned parcel are managed exclusively by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation under NYC Admin Code §18-107. Removal, pruning over 10%, or any construction work within the Tree Protection Zone (TPZ — typically a 50 ft radius) requires a Forestry work permit. Private-property tree removal in Staten Island is controlled more tightly than other boroughs due to two overlapping regulations: (1) the Special Natural Area District (SNAD) under NYC Zoning Resolution §105-00 (covering Greenbelt buffer, Butler Manor Woods, Lighthouse Hill, Todt Hill — roughly 10% of SI), which requires a City Planning Commission special permit for removal of any tree with 6-inch or greater DBH (diameter at breast height); and (2) the Lower Density Growth Management Area (LDGMA) under ZR §107-00 covering most of SI south of the Staten Island Expressway, which requires tree preservation plans for new construction. NY State Environmental Conservation Law §9-1503 additionally regulates removal of designated forest species. Dead, diseased, or immediately hazardous trees qualify for expedited permits with an ISA-certified arborist report.