Portland, ME Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Under the Heritage Tree provisions of Chapter 29, replacement trees shall be planted on the property where the Heritage Tree is removed unless another location is identified and the City Arborist determines that off-site replacement will satisfy the purposes of the ordinance. Replacement species and size must match the removed tree, or, where unavailable, multiple smaller trees may be substituted with City Arborist approval. Where on-site or off-site replacement is impractical, the property owner may pay the Tree Trust according to a cost schedule established by the City Arborist; the per-tree fee reflects the full cost of establishing a new tree, including materials and labor to plant and maintain for the early-establishment period. For street trees regulated under Sec. 29-18, the City Arborist may likewise condition a removal permit on replacement planting or a Tree Trust contribution. Portland's Forestry Division and the volunteer Re-Forest the City / WENA initiatives also offer free or low-cost replacement plantings through neighborhood partnerships.