Buffalo, NY · Erie County
Tree removal in Buffalo
In Buffalo, a free Tree Work Permit is required to plant, prune or remove any tree in the city right-of-way, and the city's Bureau of Forestry maintains street, park and city-lot trees; call 311 for inspections, removals or trimming. Trees on your own lot are yours. Buffalo's tree emergencies come from lake-effect snow, like the October 2006 storm that damaged about 85% of area trees.
On October 13, 2006, a lake-effect storm dumped more than two feet of snow on Buffalo overnight while trees were still in full leaf. The snow load broke limbs on an estimated 85 percent of the area's trees, destroyed tens of thousands of trees, and left nearly 400,000 people without power for days. Locals called it the October Surprise; some called it Arborgeddon.
The lesson still shapes tree care here: early and late snow on leafed-out trees is the biggest threat. The Bureau of Forestry maintains the city's street trees, and anyone else working on a right-of-way tree needs a free Tree Work Permit first.
Reviewed and updated
Lake-effect snow, street trees and ash
Lake-effect snow
Heavy snow on leafed-out trees, as in October 2006, breaks limbs across the city.
City street trees
Maintained by the Bureau of Forestry; a free permit is required for any work by others.
Emerald ash borer
Has killed untreated ash across Western New York.
Aging canopy
Older neighborhoods have big maples and lindens near houses and lines.
Maples, lindens, ash and pears
- Norway and silver maple
- Common; snow and ice breakage
- Littleleaf linden
- Common street tree
- Ash
- Mostly killed by emerald ash borer unless treated
- Honeylocust
- Common replacement street tree
- Callery pear
- Splits at weak forks under snow
What the October 2006 storm showed
Two feet of wet snow on fully leafed trees broke limbs on roughly 85 percent of the area's trees overnight. Silver and Norway maples lost huge limbs onto cars, houses and lines, and nearly 400,000 people lost power. The trees that fared best were well-structured, with strong branch attachments and no long, heavy, horizontal limbs.
That's the case for preventive pruning in Buffalo: reducing overextended limbs and removing weak forks before the next early or late snow.
City permits and the Bureau of Forestry
- A Tree Work Permit is required to plant, prune or remove trees within the City of Buffalo right-of-way. There's no fee.
- The Bureau of Forestry maintains street trees, park trees and trees on city-owned lots; call 311 to request an inspection, planting, removal, trimming, a root or sewer conflict check, or a pest concern.
Sources (checked 2026-10-03)
Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.
Before snow season
- Reduce long, horizontal maple limbs over roofs, driveways and lines.
- Remove weak, narrow forks on pears and young maples.
- Remove dead ash before they fail under snow.
- Call 311 about street trees; don't prune them without a permit.
Buffalo services
After lake-effect snow and ice.
Reducing limbs before snow season.
For ash killed by emerald ash borer.
After removal; call Dig Safely New York (811) first.
For private trees too damaged to keep.
Buffalo tree questions
Do I need a permit to work on a street tree in Buffalo?
Yes. A Tree Work Permit is required to plant, prune or remove a tree in the city right-of-way, and it's free.
How do I request city tree service in Buffalo?
Call 311 to request an inspection, removal, trimming, planting, a root or sewer conflict check, or a pest concern.
What was the October Surprise storm?
On October 13, 2006, more than two feet of snow fell overnight on trees still in leaf, damaging about 85% of the area's trees and cutting power to nearly 400,000 people.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my Buffalo yard?
Generally not for a tree on your own lot; right-of-way trees need the city permit.
Should I knock snow off my trees in Buffalo?
Gently brush snow off low branches you can reach, sweeping upward. Don't shake trees or hit high limbs.
When should I prune trees in Buffalo?
Late winter is a good time for structural pruning, so weak limbs are reduced before the next season's snow.
Calls are routed to independent local tree-service providers. How calling works
More local guides
Need tree help in Buffalo?
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.