Tree replacement in Reading is administered by the Shade Tree Commission for street-tree removals and by the City's land development ordinance for development sites. Replacement of approved street-tree removals typically requires 1:1 planting per Commission policy. On land-development sites, replacement ratios scale with the diameter of the removed tree, with replacement species drawn from an approved native or non-invasive list. The Commission may also require cash-in-lieu contributions to the City's tree fund where on-site planting is infeasible.
Reading's tree-replacement framework operates at two levels. For street-tree removals authorized by the Shade Tree Commission (Bill No. 42, Sept. 12, 1973), the Commission's policy generally requires one new street tree planted for each tree removed, with the City Arborist (610-655-6035) specifying the species, planting location, and standard. Replacement species are typically drawn from the City's approved street-tree list (predominantly native or proven non-invasive species suited to urban conditions in southeastern Pennsylvania). For tree removal on land-development or subdivision sites, Reading's land development ordinance β incorporated into the City Code at https://ecode360.com/RE1294 β applies a sliding-scale replacement requirement: smaller trees (under approximately 10 inches DBH at breast height) are typically replaced at 1:1, mid-size trees (10β20 inches) at 2:1, and mature specimens (20+ inches) at 3:1. Replacement trees must usually meet a minimum 2 to 2.5 inches caliper at planting, be drawn from an approved species list, and survive a two-year warranty/maintenance period. Where on-site planting is infeasible, the Commission may accept a cash-in-lieu contribution to the City's tree fund calculated based on installed cost per replacement tree. The Pennsylvania PA DCNR Community Forestry program supports Reading's Tree City USA community-forestry standard, which requires per-capita tree expenditures and active community-forestry programming.
Failure to install required replacement trees within the time specified by the Shade Tree Commission permit or the land-development plan approval is a Reading City Code violation prosecuted as a summary offense, with fines per tree and possible withholding of the Certificate of Occupancy on related construction. Survivability-bond forfeiture (typically required at the time of land-development plan approval) covers the cost of re-planting if replacement trees die within the warranty period. Persistent non-compliance can trigger revocation of related permits and referral to the City Solicitor for injunctive relief.
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See how Reading's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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