Do I Need a Permit to Remove a Tree?

Usually not, for one tree on your own lot. The county lists a few exceptions (Fairfax County: Tree Removal):

• Near a stream (RPA). Land within 100 feet of a year-round stream or a connected wetland is a Resource Protection Area. You can’t remove trees there without a waiver. For dead, dying, diseased or invasive trees, the waiver is free, you can apply yourself through the county’s PLUS system, and it takes about 5 business days. The county may ask for a letter from a Certified Arborist, and you may need to replant (Removing Vegetation in an RPA). Cutting without a waiver can mean restoring the area and civil penalties up to $5,000 a day (county RPA FAQs). Questions: Land Development Services, 703-222-0801.
• Not sure if you’re near a stream? Check the county’s Watershed and RPA map (it’s approximate), or call 703-324-1720 (county RPA FAQs).
• Clearing. Removing trees or disturbing other land on more than 2,500 square feet needs a county permit (Fairfax County: Tree Removal; Land Disturbance 101).
• Floodplains. Clearing even a small area in a floodplain needs a permit or a letter of permission (Reporting Land Development Concerns).
• Easements and required trees. Trees in a conservation easement, and trees that zoning requires on non-residential land, have removal limits. Call the Forest Conservation Branch, 703-222-0801 (Fairfax County: Tree Removal).
• Historic districts. The county has 13 Historic Overlay Districts. The county zoning code sends work there to the Architectural Review Board (ARB) when it needs a building permit, sign permit, grading plan or site plan. We found no rule that sends cutting one tree to the ARB by itself. If the tree work is part of a building or grading project, the ARB also looks at landscaping. Ask the ARB staff before you cut: 703-324-1380 or [email protected] (Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 3101.6).
• Street trees. Nearly all roads in the county are VDOT roads, and so are the trees along them. Cutting one needs a VDOT permit. Report a VDOT tree at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (Fairfax County: Roads; 24VAC30-151-30).

Want more detail? Read Do you need a permit for tree removal in Fairfax County?

Often, yes. The City of Fairfax has the strictest yard-tree rule we found in Northern Virginia. You need a permit to remove a tree more than 5 inches across (measured 4.5 feet up) in these places (City: Urban Forestry):

• a Resource Protection Area (stream buffer)
• a home lot zoned RL, RM or RH that is larger than half an acre
• every other zoning district, including townhouse and planned developments

Dead trees count too, whatever the species or condition.

• Small home lots. On a single-family lot of half an acre or less, outside a stream buffer, a permit doesn’t seem to be needed. The City doesn’t say so outright, so confirm with City Zoning at 703-385-7830.
• Fee and timing. The fee is $25 for a single-family lot and $100 for other properties (City fees, FY2027). Review takes 7 to 10 calendar days. The City’s guide says replacement trees go in within 120 days, planted March to May or October to December (City permit guide, PDF).
• Emergencies. If a tree is an immediate threat to public safety or property, it may come down first. Then tell the Zoning Administrator and apply for the permit.
• Big projects. The whole City is a Chesapeake Bay management area. Disturbing more than 2,500 square feet needs a Tree Conservation Plan.
• City trees. For a tree on City land, email [email protected] or use Fairfax City Resolve. If someone is in danger, call 911. Work in the street right-of-way needs a Public Works permit, 703-385-7810 (right-of-way permits).
• Old Town historic district. It isn’t clear if tree removal needs review there. Ask City Zoning, 703-385-7830.

Example: a maple measures 20 inches around, so it’s about 6.4 inches across. On a three-quarter-acre single-family lot zoned RL, it needs a permit, even if it’s dead. The fee is $25.

Questions: the City’s Urban Forest Manager, 703-385-7930. More on the City and County: Tree service in Fairfax, VA

Usually not, for one tree in your yard. We found no Town page that asks for a permit for a single private tree. The Town’s tree code (Chapter 17, in force since July 29, 2024) covers building projects, teardowns and additions that disturb 2,500 square feet or more (Town: Trees; tree guide 2026, PDF).

• Town trees. You can’t remove a Town-owned or right-of-way tree without permission. The Town prunes and waters these trees. Ask through SeeClickFix.
• Demolition. The Town Arborist reviews demolition permits, and tree fees may apply (Residential Projects).
• Near a stream. Check with the Town before you cut near a stream.
• Windover Heights. Its Board of Review looks at buildings, and its rules don’t mention trees. On a single-family lot, tree removal likely needs no board review, but confirm with Planning and Zoning at 703-255-6316 (Windover Heights Board of Review).

Questions: email the Town Arborist at [email protected]. More: Tree removal in Vienna, VA

Not for a yard tree on most home lots. But any tree along a Town street needs a Town permit.

• Yard trees. The Town’s tree rules aim at building projects. Single-family home lots are exempt from the “no removal after a plan is filed” rule, and dead or fallen trees are exempt (Town Code §78-111.1).
• Street and Town trees. No one may prune, remove or disturb a tree in the street right-of-way or on Town land without a tree permit from the Town’s urban forester. Apply in writing at least 48 hours ahead; the Town can waive the wait in an emergency. You also need a right-of-way work permit ([email protected]). Breaking this rule is a misdemeanor (§26-23; §26-26; Town: Right-of-Way).
• Near a stream. The whole Town is in the Chesapeake Bay overlay. In the 100-foot RPA, removing plants needs the zoning administrator’s OK. Dead, diseased or dying trees may come out following the community forester’s practice (§78-60.4).
• Clearing. Disturbing 2,500 square feet or more needs a land disturbance permit (§26-48).
• Dead trees that threaten the public. The Town can order an owner to remove a dead or diseased tree that puts the public at risk, 15 days after notice (§26-24).
• Historic district. Landscaping is exempt from review unless it changes the district in a big way. For a large tree, ask the Town (§78-60.3).

More: Tree removal in Herndon, VA

Usually not, on a single-family lot. The City steps in for these cases (City: Tree Permits):

• Specimen Trees. City Council names these trees. A removal permit is given only if the tree is dying or dangerous. The City has a map (Specimen Tree Program).
• Stream buffers (RPA). You need a permit to remove any tree, shrub or plant in the 100-foot buffer. Call Public Works, 703-248-5350 (City: RPAs).
• Commercial and multifamily lots. Any tree removal needs a permit, and the tree must be replaced.
• Building projects. A grading plan for 2,500 square feet or more serves as the tree removal permit. New homes need 20% tree canopy within 10 years (Private Development).
• Street trees. The City owns the trees in its parks and along its streets. The street strip can run from 0 to more than 15 feet from the curb, so check your plat. The City or its contractors do this work. For a problem with a public tree, call 703-248-5350 (City: Urban Forestry).
• Fees. Not published. Ask the City Arborist, 703-248-5183.

More: Tree removal in Falls Church, VA

Usually not. Arlington says no permit is needed to remove trees on private property in most cases (Arlington: Private Tree Care and Removal Permits). You do need one in these cases:

• Near a stream (RPA). Within 100 feet of a stream, you need permission from the Department of Environmental Services first, and you usually have to replant. Dead or dangerous trees get a faster review. Email [email protected]. The County has an RPA map (Arlington Tree FAQ).
• Local Historic Districts (like Maywood). A tree more than 15 inches across needs a permit from the Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board. You usually have to replant.
• Specimen trees. Trees on the County’s specimen list need a permit at any size. Removing a tree the County has designated can bring a civil penalty up to $2,500 per violation (Tree Preservation Ordinance).
• Building projects over 2,500 square feet. By-right projects need a tree plan, and tree removal stops while the permit is pending.
• Street trees. The County cares for trees on County land and along County roads. No one may remove or harm a tree on public land without County permission. Use the County’s Report a Problem form (“Fallen tree/limb”). VDOT and federal roads belong to those agencies (Arlington Tree FAQ).
• Dead trees. The County doesn’t make you remove a dead private tree unless it puts public property at unacceptable risk.

Questions: [email protected].

Usually not, for one tree in a home yard. We found no City permit for one tree in a home yard. The City Code tree permit for private land applies when the lot needs a site plan or a subdivision approval (Alexandria City Code, tree rules). A tree the City has named historic or specimen has extra rules. A private tree that affects the street goes to the City plan review and permit staff. Questions: Alex311, 703-746-4311. The City doesn’t care for or advise on private trees. No City rule makes you care for or remove a dead tree on your own lot, unless it borders or is near public property (Alexandria: Urban Forestry).

• Near a stream (RPA). Alexandria has a 100-foot buffer on year-round streams and a 50-foot buffer on natural streams that don’t run all year. Plants come out only with City approval, for things like sight lines, paths and invasive plants. Digging or clearing in the buffer needs a Water Quality Impact Assessment. Breaking the rules can bring civil and criminal penalties plus restoration. Ask the City about dead trees in a buffer: 703-746-4014 (Alexandria: RPAs).
• City street trees. The City cares for about 20,000 street trees, usually in the strip between the curb and the sidewalk. You can’t prune, remove or plant a City tree without approval. The penalty is a fine up to $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both. Some HOAs own trees by the street, and the City Arborist can confirm who owns one. Ask through Alex311 (703-746-4311). If someone is in danger, call 911.
• Overhanging limbs. You may cut back limbs that hang over your property line, at your own cost, as long as you don’t harm the tree.
• Historic districts (Old and Historic Alexandria, Parker-Gray). It isn’t clear if tree removal needs review, and the design guidelines are being rewritten in 2026. Ask Preservation staff, 703-746-3833 (Historic Preservation).

We found no Loudoun County permit for one tree in your yard. Loudoun doesn’t have Chesapeake Bay Act RPAs (Va. Code § 62.1-44.15:68), but it has its own stream buffers.

• Clearing. Removing plants, even tree stumps, counts as clearing. Clearing 5,000 square feet or more needs a grading permit. Less can need one if your lot has a sensitive area, like a stream buffer or a steep slope. Call Building and Development, 703-777-0220, option 4 (Loudoun: Land Disturbance).
• Stream buffers. The buffer is 300 feet along the Potomac, Goose Creek, Catoctin Creek and Bull Run, and 100 feet along other rivers and streams. Plants there must be kept as much as possible, though invasive plants may come out (zoning Chapter 6, PDF). For a dead or diseased tree, the county zoning code allows forest care in the buffer, and forest care includes clearing dead and diseased trees. But work in the buffer first needs a locational clearance (a county sign-off) from Building and Development. Ask them before you cut (Loudoun Zoning Ordinance, River and Stream Corridor Resources).
• Steep slopes. Slopes of 15% to 25% count as moderately steep, and over 25% as very steep. They can trigger a grading permit.
• Your HOA. The county tells owners to contact their HOA or property owners’ association.
• Street trees. Most roads are VDOT roads. Cutting a tree there needs a VDOT permit (1-800-FOR-ROAD).

Town of Leesburg

We found no Town permit for removing one tree in a home yard in the Town Code or the zoning code (Leesburg Town Code search). The online Town Code is current only to March 2026. A September 2026 change (Ordinance 2026-O-012) is not in it yet, and we could not read it. So ask the Town first: Public Works, 703-771-2790, [email protected].

• Street strip. The Town issues permits for all work in its rights-of-way (the public strip along the road). The application fee is $100, a bond may be needed, and it takes several days (Leesburg right-of-way permits).
• Clearing. On a home lot, Town rules can call for a site plan waiver for 250 to 5,000 square feet of land disturbance, and an erosion and sediment control plan for grading over 500 square feet. Cutting a tree and leaving the stump may not count, but pulling stumps or grading can. Ask the Town before you clear a large area (Leesburg land development rules).
• Creek buffer. The Creek Valley Buffer runs 150 feet on each side of larger creeks and 250 feet from the Potomac River. The zoning code allows only uses with no digging or grading there, and it does not name tree cutting. Ask the Town before you grind stumps or clear ground there (Leesburg zoning, Creek Valley Buffer).
• Old and Historic District. The zoning code needs Board of Architectural Review approval for buildings and man-made things like walls, fences and paving. For site work, it says this does not include plant materials. Trees are plants, so we found no rule that sends one tree removal to the Board. Ask Preservation staff, 703-771-2773, if the work also touches a wall, path or building (Leesburg zoning, H-1 district).

The county’s own answer: “Generally, No. But in some circumstances, Yes.” (county arborist presentation, 2015, PDF). It is older, but it’s the clearest official homeowner answer we found. You may need permission in:

• a Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area (RPA)
• wetlands
• conservation areas set aside for stormwater credit
• areas protected by rezoning promises (proffers)
• buffers between different land uses

Near a stream. The RPA covers 100 feet from the bank of a year-round stream or nearby wetlands. Plants there generally can’t be removed. With Public Works approval, you can remove dead, dying or diseased trees and invasive plants, and open a limited water view if you replant. The county’s rule is simple: call Public Works before any cutting or clearing (Prince William: RPAs).

Street trees. Almost all road rights-of-way are VDOT’s. Use the County Mapper to check who owns a tree. The county doesn’t care for trees in easements.

Usually not in the two cities. The Town of Occoquan is the big exception: it needs a permit for many yard trees.

City of Manassas tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no City permit for one tree in a home yard. The City tree canopy rules apply to site plans and subdivision plans (Manassas zoning ordinance). Questions: 703-257-8278.
• Clearing. Land disturbance of more than 2,500 square feet needs a City land disturbance permit (Manassas site permits).
• Near a stream or in Old Town. Manassas is not on the state Bay Act list, and we found no stream buffer rule in the City Code. In Old Town and other historic districts, we found no tree rule. Ask the City first (Manassas floodplain code; Manassas zoning districts, PDF).

City of Manassas Park tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no City permit for one tree in a home yard. The City Code tree rules we found are for trees on streets and public land (Manassas Park City Code search).
• Street trees. The City Code says no tree on a street may be cut or trimmed without a permit from the city manager. Ask Public Works, 703-393-0881 (City Code § 20-10).
• Clearing. The City Code uses 10,000 square feet of land disturbance as the trigger for erosion control rules. Pulling stumps or grading can count, so ask the City before a large job (City Code § 8-4).

Town of Occoquan tree removal permit

• Yes, for many yard trees. The Town needs a tree removal permit before you remove a native tree 4 caliper inches or larger on your property. The fee is $50 per permit. Apply at least 7 days before the work. The Town Manager decides within 2 business days. Town Hall: (703) 491-1918 (Town of Occoquan: Tree Removal).
• Near a stream. In the 100-foot stream buffer (RPA), plants may be removed only as the Zoning Administrator allows. For a dead or diseased tree there, ask the Town first (Occoquan: Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act).
• Clearing. Land disturbance over 2,500 square feet must meet Town erosion rules. The Land Disturbance Permit is $250 (Occoquan zoning and land development).

Dumfries, Haymarket and Quantico

• Town of Dumfries. We found no Town permit for one tree in a home yard (Dumfries Town Code search). In the 100-foot stream buffer (RPA), plants come out only with the Zoning Administrator’s approval (Dumfries Town Code § 70-451).
• Town of Haymarket. We found no tree permit for an existing home in the Town Code. But the whole Town is a historic district, and the Town lists visible landscaping for review. Ask Town Hall, 703-753-2600, before you take down a tree seen from the street (Haymarket Town Code § 58-16.4; Haymarket zoning permit form).
• Town of Quantico. We found no Town permit for one tree in a home yard (Quantico Town Code search). A Town-owned shade tree may come down only with Town Council permission (Quantico Town Code § 98-1). In the buffer by the water, plants come out only with Town approval (Quantico Town Code § 106-107).

Town of Clifton

• One yard tree. We read the Town Code and found no permit for one tree in a home yard (Clifton Town Code 2024, PDF).
• Historic district. The whole Town is in the Historic Overlay District. We found no tree rule there. Ask the Architectural Review Board if the tree is part of a project: [email protected] (Clifton ARB).
• Stream buffer and clearing. In the 100-foot stream buffer (RPA), plants come out only as the Town allows, and a dead or diseased tree needs Town review first. Land disturbance over 2,500 square feet needs a plan of development, even for a single-family home (Clifton Town Code 2024, PDF).

Usually not, for one yard tree outside the towns. Some towns are stricter, mostly in their historic districts. In these counties, most roads are VDOT roads, and a VDOT permit is needed to trim or cut a tree in the right-of-way, the public strip along the road (24VAC30-151-30).

Fauquier County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard. The county code has no tree permit rule (Fauquier County Code, Ch. 18.5).
• Clearing. Land disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more needs a county land disturbing permit. Clearing counts. Home landscaping under 10,000 square feet is exempt (Fauquier County Code, Ch. 11).
• Near a stream. Fauquier is not a Bay Act county. We could not open the county zoning rules to check for a local stream buffer, so ask the county before you cut (Fauquier zoning ordinance).

Warrenton, The Plains and Remington

• Town of Warrenton. Outside the historic district, we found no Town permit for one tree in an existing home yard. The Town can list heritage and specimen trees, and a listed tree needs written approval from the Zoning Administrator, so ask if a large old tree is listed (Warrenton Article 8, Landscaping, PDF).
• Warrenton Historic District. The Town design guidelines say removing a mature tree is a big change that needs review. You need a Certificate of Appropriateness (a design OK) first. Planning: (540) 347-2405 (Warrenton Historic District Design Guidelines, PDF). Clearing 2,000 square feet or more needs a Town permit, but removing dead trees and shrubs does not count as clearing (Warrenton Town Code, Ch. 21).
• The Plains and Remington. The Plains zoning ordinance is not online, and the whole town is a historic district. Its review board guide doesn’t say if cutting a tree needs review, so ask the Town Clerk, 540-364-4945 (Town of The Plains). In Remington, we found no town permit for one tree in a home yard (Remington zoning ordinance, PDF).

Culpeper County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard. The county landscaping rules say single-family homes and farms are exempt (Culpeper County zoning, Art. 33).
• Lake watershed. In the Lake Pelham and Mountain Run Lake watershed, new development must keep buffers in natural plants: 200 feet from the lakes, 100 feet from main streams and 50 feet from smaller ones. Ask the county before you cut there (Culpeper County zoning, Art. 8).
• Clearing. Land disturbance needs a county permit. Areas under 10,000 square feet are exempt, except on steep slopes (15% and steeper), in floodplains, in wetlands and in the lake watershed. Home landscaping is exempt (Culpeper County Code, Ch. 8).

Town of Culpeper

• Large trees. The Town tree rules apply to all trees on any site in any zone. Removing a specimen or significant tree without the Zoning Administrator’s OK is a violation. The code does not define those words, so ask the Town before you remove a large tree: 540-829-8260 (Culpeper development ordinance).
• Street trees. No tree may be cut on a public street or alley of the town without the Town Manager’s consent (Culpeper Town Code § 21-12).
• Lake Culpeper watershed. Buffers stay in natural plants: 200 feet from the lake, 100 feet from main streams and 50 feet from smaller ones. Ask the Town before you cut there (Culpeper watershed overlay).

Rappahannock County and the Town of Washington

• One yard tree. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard (Rappahannock County Code). Land disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more needs a county permit. Home landscaping is exempt (Rappahannock erosion code).
• Stream buffer. A 100-foot buffer runs along year-round streams. It applies to new subdivisions of 3 or more lots and to business projects that disturb 10,000 square feet or more. There, trees 6 inches across or more must be kept. Ask the county first: (540) 675-5343 (Rappahannock Stream Protection Overlay).
• Town of Washington. We found no Town tree permit in the zoning ordinance. But the whole town is a historic district, and the rules don’t say if cutting a tree needs review. Ask the Zoning Administrator, 540-336-7357, before you remove a large tree (Washington zoning ordinance, PDF).

Usually not, for one yard tree away from water. All four are Chesapeake Bay areas, so a tree near a stream or shoreline needs approval first, even a dead one. Most roads in the three counties are VDOT roads (24VAC30-151-30).

Stafford County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard in the county code. Trees the county has named (heritage, specimen, memorial or street trees) need 14 days written notice to the county first (Stafford County Code search).
• Near a stream or shoreline (RPA). In the 100-foot buffer, removing trees or other plants needs county approval first, even a dead, dying or diseased tree. The Vegetation Removal Request costs $267.15 ($260 plus a $7.15 technology fee). The form asks for a plat, photos and a letter from a Certified Arborist or Registered Consulting Arborist. Environmental Planners: 540-658-8668 (Stafford RPA form, PDF; Stafford waterfront tips).
• Clearing. Land disturbance of more than 2,500 square feet needs a grading permit (Stafford environmental FAQ).

Fredericksburg tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no City permit for one tree in a home yard in the City Code. The City tree rules we found are for public trees and development projects (Fredericksburg City Code search).
• Near a stream or shoreline (RPA). Removing trees or plants in the 100-foot buffer needs an RPA Buffer Area Modification Permit. Dead, diseased or dying trees are on the form too. The cost is $75 ($50 application plus $25 processing), and it is not refunded. Call 540-372-1179 (Fredericksburg RPA permit form, PDF).
• Street trees and the historic district. Trees in the City right-of-way are City trees. Ask the City Arborist, 540-372-1023 (Fredericksburg Urban Forestry). In the historic district, gardening and landscaping need no Certificate of Appropriateness, but removing major plantings counts as a site change. Ask the City first for a large tree (Historic District Handbook).

Spotsylvania County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. The whole county is a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area. Away from streams, we found no county permit for one tree in a home yard (Spotsylvania County Code search).
• Near a stream (RPA). Tree removal usually needs county approval first. A dead, diseased or dying tree can come out with approval. Civil penalties can reach $5,000 per day. Environmental Codes: 540-507-7219 (Spotsylvania: What can I do in an RPA?).
• Courthouse Historic District. You need a Certificate of Appropriateness to rework any building or landscape. The guidelines say removing healthy, mature trees is not appropriate. Ask the Planning Department, 540-507-7000 (Courthouse Area Design Guidelines, PDF). Disturbance over 2,500 square feet needs a permit (Spotsylvania Environmental).

King George County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. All land in the county is in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area. Away from streams and shoreline, we found no county permit for one tree in a home yard (King George zoning § 8-3-2).
• Near a stream or shoreline (RPA). Trees and plants come out only with local approval, dead ones too. Contact Community Development first: 540-775-7111 (King George: Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act).
• Clearing. Disturbing 2,500 square feet or more needs an approved erosion and sediment control plan (King George: Erosion and Stormwater).

Usually not, for one yard tree. A few towns ask you to check first, and street trees belong to the town or VDOT.

Purcellville, Middleburg, Lovettsville and Round Hill

• Town of Purcellville. We found no Town permit in the 2025 zoning ordinance for one tree in a single-family home yard. On business and industrial lots, and in a neighborhood’s shared open space, the Town must approve removing a live, healthy tree 4 inches or more across. The Town Code would not open for us, so check with the Town: 540-338-7421 (Purcellville Article 5, PDF).
• Town of Middleburg. The Town tree chapter has no permit for one tree in a home yard. But the Town asks you to contact the Zoning Administrator before you remove any tree on your property: [email protected] (Middleburg Property Regulations). Harming a tree on public property can bring fines up to $2,500 per tree (Middleburg Town Code, Ch. 105, PDF).
• Town of Lovettsville. We found no Town permit for one tree in a home yard. Only Town staff can approve pruning or removing a tree in the public right-of-way, with a civil penalty up to $2,500 (Lovettsville Town Code, Ch. 10).
• Town of Round Hill. The Town tree saving rule does not apply to single-family homes where no new public street is built. We found no Town permit for one tree in a home yard (Round Hill Landscaping and Screening). Near streams there is a protected corridor, at least 100 feet from the bank (300 feet along Goose Creek). Healthy trees there must be kept, so ask the Town first (Round Hill stream corridor overlay).
• Hamilton and Hillsboro. We found no Town permit for one yard tree in Hamilton and Hillsboro; county and state rules still apply.
• Clearing in the Loudoun towns. Middleburg and Lovettsville use the Loudoun County rules: clearing 5,000 square feet or more needs a grading permit, and stumps count (Middleburg Town Code, Ch. 36, PDF; Lovettsville Town Code, Ch. 43).

Clarke County tree removal permit rules (with Berryville and Boyce)

• Clarke County. The county website blocked our reader, so we could not check the county code for a tree rule. Ask the county before you cut, and before you cut near the Shenandoah River or a stream (Clarke County Code, Ch. 200).
• Town of Berryville. The Town tree rule covers trees on public property. We found no Town permit for one tree in a home yard. A large street tree can’t come down until a notice is posted on it for at least 5 days, and a violation can bring a fine up to $500 (Berryville Zoning Ordinance, PDF).
• Town of Boyce. We could not open the Town’s website or rules. Ask the Town before you cut (Town of Boyce).

Warren County tree removal permit rules (with Front Royal)

• Warren County. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard in the county code (Warren County Code search). Land disturbance over 10,000 square feet needs a plan and a land disturbing permit. The fee for one single-family home is $5.00 (Warren County Building Inspections). Near the Shenandoah River, we found no county stream buffer rule for trees, so ask the county first (Warren County Code search).
• Town of Front Royal. We found no Town permit for one ordinary tree in a home yard. Heritage, memorial and specimen trees named by the Town Council are protected, even on private land. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor: up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine (Front Royal Town Code, Ch. 156, PDF).
• Front Royal historic district. The Town counts trees seen from a street as outside features. Ask the Board of Architectural Review before you remove a large tree there (Front Royal Town Code, Ch. 175, PDF).

Yes, for any tree 40 inches around or more, even on private land. DC protects trees by how big the trunk is around, measured 4.5 feet up (DC Code § 8-651.02; DDOT tree permits (TOPS)).

• The permit itself is free. For a healthy Special Tree, you pay $55 for each inch around into the Tree Fund. Planting a new tree doesn’t replace the fee (DC Code § 8-651.04).
• Dead, dying or diseased trees still need a permit. An ISA Certified Arborist documents the tree, DDOT approves, and there is no Tree Fund fee. Need that arborist’s report? If a permit requires it, our ISA Certified Arborists can perform a tree risk assessment and write the report for a tree that may need to come down.
• Some species get a permit without the fee: tree of heaven, mulberry and Norway maple.
• Heritage Trees (100 inches or more) can come down only if a certified arborist finds the tree dead, dying, diseased or unsafe, if it’s one of those species, or if it’s moved and replanted in DC. If a moved tree dies within 3 years, that’s a violation (DC Code § 8-651.04a).
• Penalty. Removing a protected tree without a permit costs at least $300 for each inch around. Fees and fines start rising with inflation on July 1, 2029 (DC Code § 8-651.04).
• How to apply. Apply online through TOPS, with a site plan showing each tree’s place, species and size. DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division has 40 business days to issue the permit, so plan ahead.
• Emergencies. If a tree is an immediate, serious threat to people’s health and safety, DC law lets you remove it right away (DC Code § 8-651.06). The law doesn’t say if you must file afterward. Keep an arborist’s report and photos, and contact the Urban Forestry Division.
• Street trees. DDOT cares for about 170,000 public trees. Ask for pruning, removal or planting through 311. Anyone who plants, prunes or removes a street tree needs a Public Space Tree Permit first. Urban Forestry Division: 202-671-5133 (DDOT Urban Forestry; Public Space Tree Permit).
• Who the rules cover. Private land and the DC government. Federal land is not covered.
• Digging and stumps. In DC, a project that moves or disturbs more than 50 square feet of land needs an erosion and sediment control plan as part of its permit. Grubbing (pulling out stumps and roots) counts as land disturbance. Each tree 40 inches around or more still needs a DDOT permit. Ask DOEE how this fits your job (DOEE: Erosion and Sediment Control).
• Seeing “44 inches” online? That’s out of date. The Tree Preservation Enhancement Act lowered the Special Tree size from 44 to 40 inches on May 21, 2026, and DC’s permit site now says 40 (DC Code § 8-651.02; DDOT tree permits (TOPS)).
• Historic districts. DC’s Historic Preservation Office lists landscaping, including planting or removing trees and shrubs, as work that is not reviewed for historic preservation. Paving is not included. The DDOT tree size rules above still apply. Questions: 202-442-8800 (DC Historic Preservation Review Process, PDF).

Example: a healthy oak measures 60 inches around, about 19 inches across. That makes it a Special Tree. The Tree Fund fee is 60 x $55 = $3,300. Cutting it without a permit could cost at least 60 x $300 = $18,000.

In most Maryland counties, we found no county permit for one yard tree. But some cities, towns and villages need one, and these state rules apply in every Maryland place:

• Roadside trees. Maryland law calls a tree in a public road right-of-way (the public strip along the road) a roadside tree. You need a Roadside Tree Permit from the Maryland DNR Forest Service before you cut or trim it. You also need OK from the tree’s owner, such as the state, county or town. Paid work on it must be done under a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert. The fee is $25 for a single-site permit, and a Forest Ranger looks at the tree first. Penalties: up to $2,000 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for a later one (Maryland DNR: Roadside Trees).
• Near tidal water (Critical Area). The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area is land within 1,000 feet of tidal water or tidal wetlands. Near the water there is a Buffer at least 100 feet wide. The state says trees in the Buffer usually can’t be removed unless they are dead, dying or diseased, and plants taken out must be replaced. Outside the Buffer, the local planning office can approve removal if new trees are planted. Ask your county or town planning office first (Maryland Critical Area FAQs).
• Licensed Tree Expert. Maryland law says no one may do tree expert work for pay without a state license. This covers trimming, pruning and removing trees. It does not cover work on trees 20 feet tall or less. Workers supervised by a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert don’t need their own license (Maryland DNR: Licensed Tree Expert).
• Grading. State rules say grading that disturbs 5,000 square feet or more, or moves 100 cubic yards or more of earth, needs an approved erosion and sediment control plan. The state Forest Conservation Act also applies to land of 40,000 square feet or more when a grading, sediment control or subdivision approval is needed (COMAR 26.17.01.05).
• Emergencies. State law lets a person remove a roadside tree or its branches without a permit first if the tree is uprooted, if broken branches touch power or phone wires, or if the tree or branches endanger people or property. State rules say the Forest Service must be told within one week, with the location. Ask the Forest Service how this fits your case (COMAR 08.07.02.03).
• Power lines. Maryland’s high voltage line law covers lines over 750 volts. Before anyone trims a tree where a person or tool could come within 10 feet of such a line, they must tell the line owner first and make arrangements with them (Maryland high voltage line law).

Usually not in the county itself, for one tree in a home yard. But many of its cities, towns and villages have their own tree permit. Check the table below.

Montgomery County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. The county’s tree page lists the cases when a permit may be needed: the road right-of-way, more than 5,000 square feet of disturbance, a conservation easement, a historic site, a County Champion Tree, a city, town or village, or an HOA. If none of these fit, we found no county permit for one tree in a home yard. The county says removing one or two trees on a home lot usually does not need a sediment control permit (Montgomery County: Tree Permits).
• Historic properties. On a property in the county Master Plan for Historic Preservation, including homes in a county historic district, you need a Historic Area Work Permit (HAWP) to remove a live tree over 6 inches across (Montgomery Planning: HAWP).
• Street trees. A tree in the right-of-way needs a state Roadside Tree Permit. On county roads, you need a county permit too, and removed street trees must be replaced (Montgomery County: Roadside Tree Permit). Montgomery County is not on the state’s Critical Area list (Critical Area contacts).

Takoma Park tree permit

• Most yard trees. You need a Tree Removal Permit before you remove a tree 24 inches or more around (about 7 and 5/8 inches across) at 4.5 feet up. Dead trees still need a permit, at a lower fee. The fee is $50 per application, or $25 if all trees in it are dead, with up to 5 trees per application. Many permits need new trees or a fee in place of planting (Takoma Park: Tree Permits).
• Timing. The Urban Forest Manager looks at the tree in about 3 to 5 business days. A first approval is posted for 15 days for comment and appeal. Call 301-891-7612 (Takoma Park: Tree Permits).

Rockville and Gaithersburg tree removal permit rules

• City of Rockville. The private tree permit rule does not apply on a lot with one existing single-family house, unless the tree is under a Forest Conservation Plan or in the right-of-way. On townhouse, HOA, apartment and business land, a Significant Tree Removal Permit is needed for a tree 12 inches or more across outside a forest. The fee is $10 per tree, up to $50 (Rockville: Forest and Tree Preservation). Trees on historic and HOA properties need a permit (Rockville: damaged or fallen trees).
• City of Gaithersburg. You need a permit to remove, move or top a tree on private land more than 2 inches across, measured 4 inches above the ground. The fee is $5 per tree plus a 10% automation fee. Removing a tree without a permit can bring a $500 fine. Call 301-258-6330 (Gaithersburg: Tree Removal Permits).

Chevy Chase and the other Montgomery towns with a tree permit

• Chevy Chase Village. A permit is needed for a private tree 24 inches or more around (about 7.7 inches across) at 4.5 feet up. The fee is $25 per tree, up to $175 per application (Chevy Chase Village permit form).
• Town of Chevy Chase. A permit is needed for any tree 24 inches or more around at 4.5 feet up. You may need to plant a new tree or pay a $750 impact fee per tree. Most approved removals wait 7 days after the notice is posted (Town of Chevy Chase: Tree Removal Permits).
• Section 3 and Section 5. Section 3 protects private trees 56 inches or more around (about 18 inches across), since March 31, 2026 (Section 3 tree ordinance, PDF). Section 5 needs a permit at 24 inches around, and each tree removed must be replaced (Section 5: Trees).
• North Chevy Chase. A permit is needed for a tree 24 inches or more around, or 30 feet or taller, when the removal is tied to demolition, a new home or outside changes to a home. Check with the Village Manager first (North Chevy Chase code, PDF).
• Somerset, Friendship Heights and Glen Echo. Somerset needs a permit for a private tree 4 inches or more across (Somerset code). Friendship Heights needs written Village Council consent for a tree 4 inches or more across, asked for at least 7 days ahead (Friendship Heights rules, PDF). Glen Echo needs a permit for a tree more than 10 inches across or more than 10 feet tall, plus 60 days notice (Glen Echo Ordinance 22-05, PDF).
• Brookeville and Laytonsville. Brookeville needs a permit for any tree 6 inches or more across, with a $25 application fee (Brookeville permit form, PDF). Laytonsville calls a tree over 12 inches across a landmark tree and needs written notice at least 10 days before removal (Laytonsville FAQ).
• No town permit found. We found no town permit for one yard tree in Chevy Chase View, Garrett Park, Kensington, Martin’s Additions, Poolesville, Washington Grove and Barnesville; county and state rules still apply. Barnesville’s code is not online, so ask the Town Clerk if you are unsure.

Ask first. The county’s answer is mixed, and several towns have their own size rule.

Prince George’s County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. The county page says removing one tree on your own property generally does not need a permit. But the same answer starts with “Yes, you need a permit,” so ask before you cut: Environmental Planning, 301-952-3650 (Prince George’s County FAQ).
• Clearing. A project that needs a building or grading permit and disturbs 5,000 square feet or more must meet the Tree Canopy Coverage rules. Talk to the county before you clear (Tree Canopy Coverage instructions, PDF).
• Near tidal water. Land along the Patuxent, Potomac and Anacostia rivers can be in the Critical Area. Before you remove a dead tree there, call DPIE to set up an inspection: 301-755-9000. The inspector’s report gives permission and tells you to plant a new tree (Prince George’s Critical Area FAQ).

College Park, Hyattsville and the other towns with a tree permit

• City of College Park. On a home lot, you need a City permit to remove a tree over 36 inches around (about 12 inches across), measured 4.5 feet up. Dead and sick trees need the permit too, but the City approves those. There is no application fee, but each tree must be replaced or paid for ($250 or $500) (College Park tree code).
• City of Hyattsville. A permit is needed for a private tree 50 inches or more around (about 16 inches across) within 50 feet of a street or sidewalk, or 75 inches around farther back. Check with the City Arborist first: 240-487-0290 (Hyattsville tree code).
• Mount Rainier and University Park. Mount Rainier protects trees 56.55 inches or more around, and the permit application is $50. Ask for its free tree check first (Mount Rainier: Tree Protections). University Park asks for a Tree Removal Form for a tree 50 inches or more around, and a $300 fee or a new tree for a healthy one (University Park tree code).
• Edmonston, Cheverly, Laurel and Landover Hills. Edmonston’s code sets a 50-inch size with a $150 permit, but it doesn’t say if that means around or across, so ask the town (Edmonston tree code). Cheverly needs a permit to cut any tree on a vacant lot (Cheverly Town Code, Ch. 6). Laurel needs a permit for a champion tree (Laurel City Code search). The Landover Hills code isn’t clear, so ask the town (Landover Hills Chapter 58, PDF).
• No town permit found. We found no town permit for one yard tree in Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Bowie, Brentwood, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, District Heights, Fairmount Heights, Forest Heights, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Morningside, New Carrollton, North Brentwood, Riverdale Park, Seat Pleasant and Upper Marlboro; county and state rules still apply. Most of these towns control the trees on their streets.
• Code not readable. We could not read the code for Capitol Heights or Eagle Harbor. Ask the town before you cut a large tree.

It depends on how close you are to tidal water. Near the Bay and its rivers, the Critical Area rules are strict, even for dead trees.

Annapolis tree removal permit rules

• Trees near a street or the water. Annapolis needs a permit for trees in the setback next to a street, sidewalk or alley, and for trees near the water. A tree deeper in the yard and away from the water may not need a city permit. Check with Planning and Zoning: (410) 260-2200 (Annapolis FAQ).
• Size rule. In that setback, a permit is needed to remove a tree over 5 inches across, measured 4.5 feet up, dead trees too. The city may ask for 1 to 3 new trees for each tree removed. The city FAQ says the fine is $500 per tree, and you must replant (Annapolis City Code, Ch. 14.12).
• Historic District. Removing any tree in the Historic District needs approval from the Historic Preservation Commission (Annapolis: Trees in the City Code).

Anne Arundel County tree removal permit rules (with Highland Beach)

• One yard tree. Outside the Critical Area, forest easements and steep slopes, clearing 5,000 square feet or more needs approval. We found no county permit just for one tree in a home yard, but the county chart is not clear on this. Check with the Forestry Program: (410) 222-7441 (county pruning and grading chart, PDF).
• Critical Area. All trees of any size there count as habitat. A buffer management plan or Vegetation Management Plan must be approved before any tree comes down, dead or damaged trees too. Paid tree work there must be done by a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert (Anne Arundel: Critical Area).
• Town of Highland Beach. We found no town permit for one tree in a home yard, but county Critical Area rules apply there (Highland Beach Zoning Ordinance 2026, PDF).

Calvert County tree removal permit rules (with Chesapeake Beach and North Beach)

• Outside the Critical Area. A vegetation removal permit is needed when you remove trees with their stumps, remove more than 20 trees, or disturb 5,000 square feet or more. The review fee is $75. Cutting one tree and leaving the stump may not need a permit, so ask Planning and Zoning: 410-535-2348 (Calvert: Vegetation Removal, Non-Critical Area).
• Critical Area. A permit is needed to cut or clear trees, dead trees too. The fee is $75 plus a refundable planting bond (Calvert: Vegetation Removal, Critical Area).
• The two towns. Chesapeake Beach protects private trees 50 inches or more around within 50 feet of a street or sidewalk, and 75 inches farther back. Call Town Hall first: (410) 257-2230 (Chesapeake Beach tree code). North Beach has no permit for one yard tree, but in a historic district, removing significant healthy trees needs review (North Beach tree code; North Beach historic code).

Charles County tree removal permit rules (with La Plata, Indian Head and Port Tobacco)

• One yard tree. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard, when the yard is not near tidal water and the job is small (Charles County forest code).
• Critical Area buffer. In the 100-foot buffer, tree cutting is allowed only for set reasons, with a county permit and a buffer management plan first. Cutting up to five dead, diseased or dying trees still needs a simple buffer plan (Charles County Critical Area code).
• The towns. We found no town permit for one yard tree in La Plata and in Indian Head away from tidal water. We could not find the Port Tobacco code online, so ask the village (Port Tobacco Village).

Howard County tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no county permit for one tree in a home yard. A single lot under 40,000 square feet is exempt from the forest conservation rules (Howard County Code § 16.1202).
• Historic districts. In Ellicott City and Lawyers Hill, removing a live tree 12 inches or more across needs a Certificate of Approval. There is no fee (Ellicott City guidelines, PDF).
• Forest easements. If a recorded Forest Conservation Easement is on your lot, trees in it may not be cleared (Howard County: Forest Conservation).

Frederick County and City of Frederick tree removal permit rules

• Frederick County. The county forest code exempts non-commercial cutting of single trees, dead or dying trees too. We found no county permit for one yard tree (Frederick County forest code, PDF). On the County Register of Historic Places, county staff can approve a tree removal with a certified arborist’s letter (Administrative Approval Guidelines, PDF).
• City of Frederick. Outside the historic district, we found no city permit for one yard tree (Frederick Land Management Code). In the historic district, the Historic Preservation Commission must approve removal of any private tree over 10 inches across. For a dead or dying tree, send a report from a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert (Frederick: Tree Removal in the Historic District, PDF).
• The towns. We found no town permit for one yard tree in Brunswick, Middletown, Myersville, Walkersville and Woodsboro; county and state rules still apply. In the New Market historic district, the town counts trees as part of a property, so ask before you remove a tree seen from the street ($35 filing fee) (New Market Certificate of Appropriateness, PDF). We could not read the full rules for Burkittsville or Rosemont, so ask the town.

Baltimore City tree removal permit rules

• One yard tree. We found no city permit for one tree in a private yard. The city tree code covers street trees, park trees, and building or grading projects of 5,000 square feet or more (Baltimore City Code 7-41-4).
• Street trees. A written city permit is needed to remove a tree in or along a public street, and a licensed tree expert must do the work. The Forestry FAQ says removal permits are issued only to repair a leaking sewer (Baltimore City Code 7-53-15).
• Historic districts. The city design guidelines say to keep healthy trees in yards and along streets. Ask CHAP staff before you remove a tree in a district (CHAP review procedures).