Maryland
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Maryland
Maryland regulates tree work more closely than most states. Anyone paid to work on trees must be a Licensed Tree Expert or work under one, roadside trees need a state permit, and land near the Chesapeake has its own clearing limits.
The three Maryland rules that affect a removal
First, licensing. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources requires a Licensed Tree Expert credential for anyone who practices tree care for pay, and the company must carry liability insurance to hold it. The department publishes a searchable list, so checking a company takes a minute.
Second, the Roadside Tree Law. A tree growing in a public road right-of-way cannot be trimmed or removed without a permit from the DNR Forest Service, even by the adjoining owner.
Third, the Critical Area. Land within 1,000 feet of tidal water and tidal wetlands falls under county Critical Area programs, and the 100-foot buffer at the shoreline is the most restricted part. Removing even a dead tree there generally needs county approval and replanting. Some towns add their own rules: Takoma Park and Annapolis both require permits for larger private trees.
The derecho, Isabel and ordinary summer storms
The derecho of June 29, 2012 crossed Maryland in the late evening with gusts between 60 and 80 mph. It brought down trees from Garrett County to the bay and cut power to well over half a million customers in the Baltimore and Washington suburbs during a heat wave.
Hurricane Isabel in 2003 did its damage differently, with a record surge up the Chesapeake and hours of wind on soaked ground. Shoreline trees went into the water and inland oaks tipped over whole.
Most years the work comes from ordinary thunderstorms. Maryland's suburbs were built under mature forest, and a tulip poplar or oak 100 feet tall standing beside a house is normal in Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore counties.
Maryland tree conditions by region
| Region | Typical trees | What usually goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Western mountains | Sugar maple, oak, hemlock | Ice and heavy wet snow, hemlock woolly adelgid |
| Piedmont and central suburbs | Tulip poplar, white and red oak | Thunderstorm failures, oak decline, construction root damage |
| Southern Maryland and the bay shore | Oak, loblolly pine, sweetgum | Shoreline erosion, salt, Critical Area limits |
| Eastern Shore | Loblolly pine, red maple | Wet soils, coastal wind, pine beetles |
Why so many Maryland oaks are dying
Since about 2019 arborists across central Maryland have reported unusual numbers of mature oaks dying within a season or two. No single cause explains it.
- Weather swings
- Record rain in 2018 followed by flash drought stressed root systems.
- Ambrosia beetles and two-lined chestnut borer
- Insects that attack trees already weakened.
- Root rots and hypoxylon canker
- Fungi that finish the decline.
- Age
- Many suburban oaks date from the same period of regrowth and are reaching maturity together.
When a Maryland oak has become a hazard
Leaves brown and stay attached in midsummer
A sign of sudden vascular failure rather than normal leaf drop.
Bark falls away in patches
Often with a dark or silvery crust underneath.
Fine sawdust on the trunk
Looks like toothpicks pushed out of the bark. Ambrosia beetles.
Large dead limbs in the upper crown
Dead oak wood becomes brittle quickly and is dangerous to climb.
Sorting a Maryland tree problem
- Plan it
The tree is in the strip along a public road
Do not cut. Ask the company to obtain a roadside tree permit.
- Plan it
You live within sight of tidal water
Call your county's Critical Area planner before any clearing.
- This week
An oak died this summer and stands over the house
Book removal within months. See dead tree removal.
- Act now
A tree is on the roof after a storm
Emergency work does not wait for routine permits. Call, then document.
Maryland tree service questions
How do I check a Maryland tree company's license?
Ask for the Licensed Tree Expert number and look it up on the Department of Natural Resources list. The license requires insurance, experience or education, and an exam.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own lot in Maryland?
Not from the state for an ordinary backyard tree. You do need one for roadside trees and within the Critical Area buffer, and some towns and counties regulate large trees on private lots.
Can I cut a dead tree in the 100-foot buffer?
Generally yes with county approval, and you will usually be asked to replant. Do not assume a dead tree is exempt. Unapproved clearing in the buffer carries fines.
What does unlicensed tree work risk in Maryland?
Practicing without the license is a violation of state law, and it usually means no insurance either. If a worker is hurt or a tree lands on the house, the owner may have little recourse.
Tree service in Maryland, by phone
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