Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own property in Westchester County?

It depends on your specific municipality. Many towns and villages regulate trees above a certain trunk diameter or in protected zones like wetland buffers, even on private property. Check with your town's building or planning department, or ask a local tree company that's pulled permits there before.

Which Westchester towns have the strictest tree removal rules?

Villages and towns with conservation-minded zoning, including several in the Rivertowns and northern Westchester, tend to have more detailed tree preservation ordinances. Rules can cover diameter thresholds, replacement planting, and review by a conservation board.

What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?

You can face fines from the municipality, and some towns require you to replant multiple trees as a penalty. It's worth a phone call to your town office before cutting anything borderline.

Tree removal permits and municipal approval in Westchester County

A lot of Westchester municipalities, including villages like Bronxville, Larchmont, and Rye, along with towns such as Greenburgh and New Castle, have tree preservation ordinances that require a permit before you can take down a tree over a certain diameter, especially on properties near wetlands, steep slopes, or in designated conservation zones.

This is a different transaction than just hiring someone to cut a tree down. It involves knowing which trees are protected, filling out an application with your town's building or conservation department, sometimes paying a fee, and in some cases replanting a certain number of trees to replace what's removed. Established tree companies that work across the county regularly deal with this and can tell you upfront whether your job needs a permit before they schedule the cut.

Ask your tree company if they've pulled permits in your specific town before
Protected species and diameter thresholds vary by municipality, so what's fine in one town may need approval next door
Removing a protected tree without a permit can mean fines from the town

What it costs

Permit fees are typically set by the municipality, not the tree company, and vary town to town. Some towns also require a replacement planting bond or fee if the removed tree was protected. Ask your contractor whether their quote includes handling the permit application or if that's on you.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for tree removal.

1. All American Tree Care
5.0★ · 169 reviews

93
2. Timberline Tree & Landscape Inc.
5.0★ · 222 reviews

91
3. Owens Bros. Tree Service
4.9★ · 182 reviews

90

Browse all providers

FAQ

Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own property in Westchester County?: It depends on your specific municipality. Many towns and villages regulate trees above a certain trunk diameter or in protected zones like wetland buffers, even on private property. Check with your town's building or planning department, or ask a local tree company that's pulled permits there before.
Which Westchester towns have the strictest tree removal rules?: Villages and towns with conservation-minded zoning, including several in the Rivertowns and northern Westchester, tend to have more detailed tree preservation ordinances. Rules can cover diameter thresholds, replacement planting, and review by a conservation board.
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?: You can face fines from the municipality, and some towns require you to replant multiple trees as a penalty. It's worth a phone call to your town office before cutting anything borderline.

Your enquiry may be shared with partner providers who can do the work, and we may receive a referral fee. Our rankings and scores follow our published method only and are never affected by referral fees.