Boston, MA · Suffolk County

Tree removal in Boston

In Boston, street trees are public shade trees under Massachusetts law. They can't be removed without a request to the Tree Warden at Parks and Recreation, a public hearing, and, if approved, removal at the requester's expense plus a per-inch payment into the parks fund. Trees on your own lot are a separate matter. Nor'easters and heavy wet snow cause most of the city's tree damage.

Call for tree service

Removal requests go to the Tree Warden with a site plan. The warden inspects the tree, a hearing notice is published, and residents can submit written objections. Hearings for street trees, often tied to construction, are posted regularly for neighborhoods from Roxbury and the South End to East Boston and Charlestown.

Boston's triple-deckers and row houses in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Somerville-adjacent neighborhoods sit close together, so backyard removals are mostly climbing and rigging jobs. In 2010, Asian longhorned beetle was found in a small number of trees in Boston, prompting removal of infested and nearby host trees; maples are its preferred host.

Reviewed and updated October 1, 2026

Boston's public shade tree law

Street trees are public shade trees protected by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 87 and can't be cut down without a public hearing and Tree Warden authorization.
Requests go to the Tree Warden at Boston Parks and Recreation ([email protected]) with a site plan. If approved, removal is at the requester's expense, plus a per-inch payment into the Fund for Parks and Recreation before the permit is granted.

Sources (checked 2026-10-01)

Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.

How a Boston street tree hearing works

1
Request
Send the Tree Hearing Request Form, a site plan and supporting documents to the Tree Warden.
2
Inspection
The Tree Warden or a designee looks at the tree's size, species and condition, and any other trees affected.
3
Public notice and hearing
Notice is published and a hearing is held; anyone can submit written comments or objections.
4
Decision
If someone objects, removal needs the mayor's approval. If approved, the requester pays for removal plus a per-inch contribution to the parks fund.

Nor'easters, tight lots and Asian longhorned beetle

Tree Warden hearings

Public shade trees need a Tree Warden permit and public hearing before removal.

Nor'easters and heavy snow

Wind and wet snow break limbs across the city, especially on maples and pears.

Tight triple-decker lots

Backyard trees are rigged and carried out through narrow side passages.

Asian longhorned beetle

Found in Boston in 2010; maples are the main host.

Asian longhorned beetle or emerald ash borer? Telling the damage apart

Trees attacked

Asian longhorned beetle: Maples especially, also birch, elm, willow and others
Emerald ash borer: Ash only

Exit holes

Asian longhorned beetle: Perfectly round, about the size of a pencil
Emerald ash borer: D-shaped, about an eighth of an inch

Other signs

Asian longhorned beetle: Chewed pits in bark, sawdust-like frass at branch bases
Emerald ash borer: Thinning crown, bark splits, woodpecker damage

What to do

Asian longhorned beetle: Report suspected damage to state officials
Emerald ash borer: Treat valuable healthy ash or plan removal

Two invasive beetles found in Massachusetts
	Asian longhorned beetle	Emerald ash borer
Trees attacked	Maples especially, also birch, elm, willow and others	Ash only
Exit holes	Perfectly round, about the size of a pencil	D-shaped, about an eighth of an inch
Other signs	Chewed pits in bark, sawdust-like frass at branch bases	Thinning crown, bark splits, woodpecker damage
What to do	Report suspected damage to state officials	Treat valuable healthy ash or plan removal

Maples, honeylocusts, planetrees and lindens

Norway maple: Very common; beetle host; surface roots
Honeylocust: Common street tree
London planetree: Large, durable street tree
Littleleaf linden: Common street tree in older neighborhoods
Callery pear: Splits under snow load

Snow-covered street of townhouses with bare trees

Triple-deckers, shared driveways and street parking

Triple-deckers and row houses on small lots, often with shared driveways, fences and overhead lines across yards. Street parking rules affect where trucks can work.

Snow emergency and street-cleaning rules can block where a truck parks on the day, so schedule with the calendar in mind and confirm the company knows the parking situation.

Boston services around the hearing process

Tree Removal
Private yard trees; street trees go through the Tree Warden.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Backyard pruning before nor'easter season.
Storm Damage Tree Removal
Snow and nor'easter cleanup.
Tree Risk Assessment
A documented opinion for a hearing or a neighbor dispute.
Stump Grinding & Removal
After removals; small machines fit most triple-decker yards.

Boston tree questions

Can I get the street tree in front of my Boston house removed?

You can request it from the Tree Warden. Expect an inspection and a public hearing, and if approved you'll pay for the removal plus a per-inch payment into the parks fund. Healthy trees are often not approved.

How do I recognize Asian longhorned beetle damage?

Look for perfectly round exit holes about the size of a pencil, pits chewed in the bark, and sawdust-like material at branch bases, especially on maples. Report anything suspicious to state officials.

How are trees removed behind a triple-decker?

Mostly by climbing and rigging, lowering wood in sections and carrying it through narrow side passages. A crane is sometimes used to lift large pieces over the house.

Calls are routed to independent local tree-service providers. How calling works

More local guides

Need tree help in Boston?

Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.