Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in Baltimore, MD?
Yes, for most trees in Baltimore City streets and parks: you need a written permit from the Department of Recreation and Parks before removal. The rules are different for trees located entirely on private property, and a separate Maryland licensing law applies to anyone doing paid tree work anywhere in the state.
Do I need a permit for a street tree in Baltimore?
Yes. Under Baltimore City Code § 53-15, any tree growing in a public street right-of-way requires a written permit from the Department of Recreation and Parks before it can be removed.
Street tree permit basics
- Who issues it: Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (Forestry Division).
- Timeline: the City has up to 20 business days to make a determination on your application.
- Mitigation: removal of a tree larger than 1 inch diameter at breast height (dbh) generally requires inch-for-inch replacement mitigation.
- Exemptions: a permit may not be required, or is fast-tracked, when the tree is already dead, dying, diseased, or a documented high-risk hazard.
Do I need a permit for a tree in a Baltimore park?
Yes. Trees located in a City park follow the same permit process as street trees, under Baltimore City Code § 53-16. The mitigation threshold is different: replacement is generally required for park trees at 8 inches dbh or larger, or at 1 inch dbh if the tree was deliberately planted (for example, as part of a City planting program).
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own private property?
The Baltimore Subtitle 53 provisions reviewed here specifically regulate trees in public streets and public parks; they do not state the same permit requirement for trees located entirely on private property.
This is a narrow, code-specific answer about Baltimore City’s street and park tree permitting subtitle. It is not a statement that all private tree removal is unregulated — homeowners associations, deed restrictions, or other local ordinances may still apply, and Maryland’s statewide licensing law (below) governs who can legally perform the work if it’s paid.
Is there an emergency exception to the permit process?
Yes. Under Baltimore City Code § 53-5(c), when a tree has already fallen or presents a similar emergency, the City can skip the standard 5-day public notice period before acting. The City must notify the City Council after the fact.
Do tree removal companies need a special license in Maryland?
Yes — and this is a separate legal requirement from the Baltimore City permits above, so it’s worth keeping the two straight.
Maryland’s Tree Expert Law (separate from City permits)
Maryland’s statewide Tree Expert Law, in place since 1945, requires anyone performing paid tree work anywhere in Maryland — including on private property — to be a Licensed Tree Expert (LTE). This applies statewide, not just inside Baltimore City, and it’s about who is legally allowed to do the work, not whether a City permit is needed for the removal itself.
Unpaid work on your own trees on your own property does not require an LTE license.
Sources: Maryland DNR – Tree Expert Program and University of Maryland Extension – verifying tree service contractor credentials.
Look up a company’s Licensed Tree Expert status with Maryland DNR’s LTE lookup tool →
Baltimore tree permit FAQ
How long does a Baltimore tree removal permit take?
The Department of Recreation and Parks has up to 20 business days to make a determination on a street or park tree removal permit application.
Do I need to replace a tree I remove in Baltimore?
For street trees larger than 1 inch dbh, and for most park trees at 8 inches dbh or larger (or 1 inch dbh if deliberately planted), inch-for-inch mitigation planting is generally required.
Does a private-property tree in Baltimore need a City permit?
Baltimore’s Subtitle 53 permit rules specifically cover trees in public streets and public parks; they do not state the same permit requirement for trees located entirely on private property.
Can I remove a tree myself if it already fell in a storm?
Baltimore’s emergency exception under § 53-5(c) lets the City skip the standard 5-day public notice for a fallen tree or similar emergency, with Council notified afterward. For paid removal work, the crew doing the work still needs to be a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert.
Reviewed by Tree Removal Baltimore — a local Baltimore tree removal and arborist service. This page summarizes public Baltimore City Code and Maryland DNR/university guidance for informational purposes; it is not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the Department of Recreation and Parks before starting work.