Fitchburg, MA Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Tree replacement in Worcester County is municipally determined because county government was abolished in 1998 and Massachusetts has no statewide private-property tree replacement mandate. MGL c. 87 §6 requires replacement of illegally removed public shade trees — the Tree Warden specifies the species and size. The City of Worcester requires replacement plantings as part of Site Plan Review for larger projects (generally 10+ parking spaces or 5,000+ sf of disturbance) through the Worcester Planning Board. Replacement requirements are typical 1:1 to 2:1 ratios with minimum 2-inch caliper trees from an approved native/adapted species list (oak, maple, red maple, American elm, beech, hemlock, sugar maple, eastern white pine are common choices). Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough, Grafton, Harvard, and a handful of other Worcester County towns have adopted tree replacement ordinances tied to development approvals or specific tree bylaws, often with fee-in-lieu options that fund town tree funds. Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c. 131 §40) replanting requirements apply when trees are cut within the 100-ft wetlands buffer. Stretch Code / Green Communities programs incentivize tree planting but don't mandate. MGL c. 132A (Arborists) requires MA Certified Arborist supervision for certain tree work.