Bucks County, PA Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Tree replacement requirements in Bucks County apply where municipal tree protection ordinances mandate them. Municipalities with active ordinances including Doylestown Township, Newtown Township, Solebury, Upper Makefield, Buckingham, Warrington, and Warwick generally require: replacement ratio of 1:1 for smaller removed trees, 2:1 for trees 12-24 inches DBH, and 3:1 or greater for specimen trees 24+ inches DBH; minimum planting caliper of 2-3 inches (some ordinances require 2.5 inch minimum); approved species drawn from native or adapted lists emphasizing oak (white, red, scarlet, pin), maple (red, sugar — no Norway maple which is invasive), hickory, beech, birch, sycamore, tulip poplar, and smaller understory species (dogwood, redbud, serviceberry). Replacement trees must typically be planted on the same property when feasible. Where on-site planting is impossible, fee-in-lieu payments to municipal tree funds are allowed — typical rates $300-$500 per required replacement tree, deposited to a dedicated tree preservation account for street tree planting and park forestry. Bucks County Conservation District provides native species guidance and may reference the PA DCNR recommended native species list. Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances (SALDOs) in most Bucks municipalities require developer-funded tree preservation plans and replacement plantings as part of approval, often with 1-2 year maintenance guarantees (surety bonds). HOAs in planned communities commonly require homeowner replacements of specified species when original plantings die. Invasive species (tree-of-heaven, Norway maple, callery pear) cannot be used as replacements and some municipalities require removal.