Richmond Chapter 41 (Trees) requires permits to remove trees in the public right-of-way, on city property, and within the Resource Protection Area buffer along the James River, with replacement obligations enforced by the Urban Forestry Division.
Chapter 41 governs tree planting, maintenance, and removal in public spaces under the authority of the Urban Forestry Commission and the Department of Public Works. Removing any tree from a public right-of-way, park, or city-owned parcel without a permit is prohibited, regardless of whether the abutting property owner planted it. Permit applications require an inspection by the city arborist, who evaluates health, hazard, and replacement needs. Private property tree removal generally does not require a permit unless the tree is within the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area buffer or part of a development site plan governed by Chapter 44 landscape standards.
Unauthorized removal of a public tree is a Class 1 misdemeanor with fines up to $2,500 plus tree replacement valued at the appraised loss using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers methodology.
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See how Richmond's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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