Tree Removal in Brooklyn, NY

NYC Parks doesn't issue permits for private-property trees, and most trees on private land aren't regulated. No tree in the city's right-of-way or a park can be removed or pruned without written permission from NYC Parks; apply through 311 or online.

London plane: the most common street tree, large and close to brownstones. Norway maple: common in backyards; prone to girdling roots and decline. Ailanthus (tree of heaven): invasive, fast-growing backyard tree that resprouts after cutting.

No tree in the city's mapped right-of-way can be removed or worked on without written permission from NYC Parks, and removing or damaging one without a permit can bring a fine of up to $15,000. Some front-yard trees are still in the right-of-way, so check your survey first.

Brownstone and row-house backyards often have no side access, so trees are taken down in small pieces carried or lowered through the building or over the roof, which makes removal slower and costlier.

Con Edison trims to about 10 feet above, 6 feet either side and 6 feet below its wires in the city on a three-year cycle. Report downed wires to Con Edison and the police, and treat them as live.

Most private trees are in narrow backyards behind attached houses with no truck access, so jobs often mean hand-carrying wood through the house, rigging over the roof, or a crane from the street with a city permit.