City of Takoma Park - Tree Protection or Removal

The City Arborist may need to perform a tree impact assessment on your property. Specific requirements related to the size of the project and the distance from a tree will affect whether or not these activities require a tree impact assessment. The tree ordinance provides further details in section 12.12. In general, if you are performing the following activities within 50 feet of the base of a tree, you will need a tree impact assessment:

. Regrading three inches or more above or below grade
. Construction or placement of a structure other than a fence within 50 feet of an urban forest tree
. Paving
. Pruning or otherwise altering an urban forest tree (more than 5% of the canopy)

Once you have had a tree impact assessment by the City Arborist, he may tell you to proceed, or to create a tree protection plan. If the City Arborist finds that your construction activity will affect a neighbor's tree, you will have to create a tree protection plan and you will need to post a bond as well. The bond amount is the estimated cost of removal of the neighbor's tree(s) and the fair replacement costs. The bond must be secured for two years. The City Arborist determines if the critical root zone is affected and the amount of the bond.

Construction or other activities may damage a tree's roots or affect its water supply. To prevent or mitigate these negative effects you may need a tree protection plan for the following types of activities:

For a Tree Protection Permit contact the City Arborist at 301.891.7612 or e-mail at ToddB@takomagov.org.

Once a Tree Protection Plan application is received and approved by the City Arborist, the City notifies contiguous property owners allowing them 15 days to comment on the application. Only those property owners who share a property line with the applicant are permitted to comment. After the 15 day period has expired, if no comments or objections have been received, the application will be processed and the permit issued. If comments/objections are received, the Arborist will determine if the permit can be issued or denied.

If you plan to remove, relocate or significantly prune a tree, you will probably need a tree permit. Tree permits are required for trees greater than the following size at breast height (4 ½ feet from the ground):

1. The tree's circumference is 24 inches or more; OR
2. The tree's diameter is 7 5/8 inches or more

If your property is in the historic district you may also need to obtain a Historic Area Work Permit . Tree permits in the historic district are required for trees greater than the following size at breast height (4 ½ feet from the ground):

1. The tree's circumference is 18.33 inches or more; OR
2. The tree's diameter is 6 inches or more

If a tree receives a waiver (for example, because it's dead), you will have immediate approval to remove the tree provided notice of the activity is posted for seven days before, during and/or after the removal.

If the application for a permit is preliminarily approved, you will go through a 15-day posting period when anyone in Takoma Park can protest the removal of the tree. If the removal is not protested, you can remove the tree once you have signed a tree replacement agreement with the City.

If there's a disagreement about a tree removal, the City Tree Commission will hold a hearing to determine the fate of the tree. This can occur for two reasons:

1. If the City Arborist denies a tree removal permit, and you appeal; OR
2. If the City Arborist preliminarily approves a tree removal permit, but that action is protested by a member of the public.

Either way, if the Tree Commission denies permission for removal, you have 30 days to take an appeal to the Circuit Court in Rockville.

For a Tree Protection Permit contact the City Arborist at 301.891.7612 or e-mail at ToddB@takomagov.org.

Yes. You will be required to do some sort of tree replacement. The "replacement" may consist of several trees depending on the size and quality of the tree being removed. All replacement trees must be at least 1 ½ inches in caliper from good nursery stock trees and planted within six months of the issuance of the permit. Alternately, you may donate a set amount to the City's tree replacement fund in lieu of planting actual trees.

What qualifications should I look for if I'm hiring someone to care for my trees?

Any tree work done for hire in the City - including tree removal, pruning, plant health care, or consulting - must be done by a Licensed Tree Expert registered with the State of Maryland. This license ensures that the company has some knowledge of urban forestry and has proper insurance to do work on private property. If you do not use a licensed company, you may be fined $400 by the City and could face further fines from the State.

. Construction without a tree impact assessment or tree protection plan
. Violation of an approved tree protection plan
. Pruning without a tree impact assessment
. Removal of a tree without a proper application

You do not need special permission to plant or maintain non-woody vegetation as long as it's less than two feet tall. This is also true in any other part of the City right of way.

Note: the right of way is the area (usually near a road) where the City or utility companies place utility poles, street signs and other necessary items.

Different trees work well in different locations depending on the soil, light, water, and other conditions. The Tree Selection Guide includes information on sizes and preferred conditions of trees suitable for the Washington metro area. There are many other varieties of trees available beyond this list, but it is a good stating point. More information can be found at local arboreta such as Brookside Gardens and the National Arboretum, as well as your favorite garden center.