Tree replacement in Bethlehem is administered by the Director of Public Works under Article 910.04(b) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem (https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/CityOfBethlehem/media/Ordinance-PDFs/ARTICLE0910.pdf), which authorizes the Director to require replacement plantings as a condition of any public-area tree-removal permit. Article 910.04(e) sets minimum standards: single-stemmed, 2-inch caliper, trunk free of branches to 6 feet, planted within six months of permit issue. Article 910.04(f) authorizes City-planted replacements at the owner's expense with a $300 administration fee plus all costs if not planted in time.
Bethlehem's tree-replacement framework is built into Article 910 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem (Trees). Article 910.04(b) provides that 'as a condition to any permit to remove any tree on a public area, or any portion of a tree that is on a public area, the Director may require that the permittee plant one or more trees in place of the one removed.' Article 910.04(e) sets the minimum replacement standard: 'All replacement trees planted shall be single-stemmed and a minimum of two inches (2") in caliper, with the trunk free of branches to a minimum of six feet (6') above the ground' and structured to provide 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over roadways at maturity. Replacement must be completed within six months of the permit issue date (or as directed by the City Forester). Article 910.04(c) addresses stump treatment, requiring leveling four inches below grade and acceptable soil fill where on-site replacement is feasible, or deeper preparation where a same-location replacement is needed. Article 910.04(f) authorizes the City or its agent to plant required replacements at the property owner's expense if the owner does not install them within six months, with a $300 administration fee plus all actual costs (replacement-tree cost, overhead, planting cost, Auditor's fees, County Recorder's fees, maintenance fees). Article 910.04(g) authorizes the City to remove and replace any newly planted tree that does not meet the City's Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice, with all costs assessed to the property owner. For land-development sites, the Bureau of Urban Forestry reviews tree-inventory and replacement plans under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Species are typically drawn from the City's approved street-tree list, with the City Forester specifying species, size, and location.
Failure to install required replacement trees within six months of the Article 910.04 permit issue date triggers Article 910.04(f) City-planted replacement at the owner's expense, with a $300 administration fee plus all actual costs (replacement-tree cost, planting cost, Auditor's fees, County Recorder's fees, maintenance fees). Persistent non-compliance is enforceable under the Article 910.99 schedule ($200/$500/$1,000 with up to 30/60/90 days). Article 910.04(g) authorizes the City to remove non-conforming or substandard plantings without further notice, with all costs assessed to the owner. Article 910.17 authorizes lien-backed assessment under the Third Class City Code Β§Β§4503-A through 4508-A, with 10% per annum interest on installment agreements over $1,000.
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem Zoning Β§ 1322(yy)(4) expressly refers pool fencing to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, which adopts the 2018 International Swimming Pool...
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem Zoning Code Article 1318 does not impose a separate list of prohibited fence materials, leaving fence-material regulation to general property-maint...
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem's zoning code does not require neighbor consent for a boundary fence under Article 1318, but Pennsylvania common-law partition-fence principles and...
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem requires a zoning permit from the Bureau of Code Enforcement for any fence installation as part of general zoning compliance under Article 1318 (he...
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem caps household animals at six without a permit: Section 1159.04 of Article 1159 (Animals) requires application for a permit for any household keepi...
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem's local wildlife-feeding enforcement runs through Article 1159 nuisance provisions (Section 1159.06) of the Codified Ordinances and property-mainte...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Lehigh County.
See how other cities in Lehigh County handle tree replacement requirements.
See how Bethlehem's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.