DC's Urban Forestry Division and DOEE share a 40% citywide tree canopy goal under the Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act, prioritizing planting in heat-vulnerable Wards 5, 7, and 8 documented at less than 25% canopy.
The Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act of 2016 (DC Law 21-115) and Sustainable DC 2.0 set a 40% tree canopy goal by 2032. DDOT's Urban Forestry Division manages over 170,000 street trees; private trees are governed by the Urban Forest Preservation Act (DC Code 8-651). Casey Trees and DOEE's RiverSmart Trees program offer free residential tree plantings, prioritizing low-canopy census tracts in Anacostia, Deanwood, and Trinidad. The 2024 Urban Forest Equity Plan commits to closing the canopy gap between Ward 3 (45%) and Ward 8 (~25%) by directing 60% of new plantings east of the river.
Removing or damaging street trees without DDOT permit triggers replacement costs at appraised value plus $300 per inch of trunk diameter and possible criminal misdemeanor charges.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Washington, DC
Washington DC does not regulate lawn ornaments on private property through a specific ordinance. Statuary, religious displays, and decorative landscape eleme...
Washington, DC
Washington DC has no city ordinance specifically regulating inflatable holiday displays on private property. The primary city concerns are (1) public-space e...
Washington, DC
The District of Columbia does not impose specific install-by or take-down-by dates for holiday lights on private property. City-wide regulation is limited to...
Washington, DC
Washington DC requires Department of Buildings (DOB) permits for built-in outdoor kitchens that involve gas line installation, electrical work, plumbing, or ...
Washington, DC
Washington DC has no smoker-specific ordinance, but smokers and wood-fired ovens are open-flame cooking devices subject to IFC Section 308.1.4 in multi-famil...
Washington, DC
Washington DC adopts the International Fire Code (IFC) as the DC Fire Code (12-G DCMR). IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal and other open-flame cooking d...
See how Washington's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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