Trees across the DC area
Can I take down a tree on my own lot? The rules differ at every jurisdiction line. Here is the short answer for each.
Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal or professional advice for any one property. Codes change. SetbackIQ is not a zoning determination, a permit, or a survey, and it does not replace an architect, engineer, or lawyer. Confirm with your building and zoning offices before you build, buy, or sign a contract.
| Where | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Washington, DC | A Special Tree (44 to 99.9 in around, measured at chest height) needs a DDOT permit and fee to remove. A healthy Heritage Tree (100 in or more) can't be removed at all. |
| Montgomery County, MD | No permit is needed to remove a tree on an existing house lot by itself. Once your project needs a sediment control permit, the Tree Canopy Law (Ch. 55) applies and requires shade tree planting or a fee. Larger development falls under Forest Conservation (Ch. 22A) instead. Trees in the right-of-way need a Roadside Tree permit. |
| Prince George's County, MD | Cutting a tree on an existing house lot needs no permit by itself. Building or grading permits that add 2,500 sq ft or more of floor area or disturbance must meet Tree Canopy Coverage rules (§ 25-127). Woodland conservation plans apply only to lots of 40,000 sq ft or more with at least 10,000 sq ft of woodland. |
| Alexandria, VA | No permit is needed to remove a tree on an existing house lot outside an RPA. When work needs a grading plan, the lot must reach 25% tree canopy by planting or preserving trees (§ 7-2200). |
| Arlington County, VA | No permit is needed to remove a tree on a single-family lot outside an RPA. Heritage and specimen tree protections (County Code § 67-7) reach a single-family lot only if the owner agreed to the designation. |
| Fairfax County, VA | Fairfax's tree conservation rules (Chapter 122) attach to development plans, not to an ordinary house lot. In a Resource Protection Area, removing vegetation needs county approval. Check any proffers or plan conditions on your subdivision. |
Towns and cities inside these counties (for example, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bowie, Laurel, Herndon, Vienna, and Falls Church) have their own rules.