Massachusetts
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts the question is often whose tree it is and how close it stands to a wetland. Roadside trees are protected by a state law more than a century old, and conservation commissions review cutting near water. Private backyard trees are usually the owner's call.
Nor'easters, an ice storm and a tornado
The coast takes the wind. A nor'easter in late October 2021 hit southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod with gusts over 80 mph and cut power to about half a million customers, most of them because of trees. Three nor'easters in eleven days in March 2018 did similar damage with heavy snow added.
Central Massachusetts takes the ice. In December 2008 freezing rain built up on trees across Worcester County and the hill towns, and the sound of limbs breaking went on for hours.
The Connecticut River valley has its own entry: the June 2011 tornado that ran from Westfield through Springfield to Charlton and removed the tree cover from entire neighborhoods.
Public shade trees and wetland buffers
Chapter 87 of the Massachusetts General Laws defines every tree within a public way as a public shade tree. It may not be cut, trimmed or removed by anyone other than the tree warden without a permit, and removing a healthy one requires a posted public hearing. Roads designated as scenic add a planning board review.
The Wetlands Protection Act is the rule most likely to touch a backyard. Work within 100 feet of a wetland, or within 200 feet of a perennial stream, falls under the local conservation commission. Removing trees there usually calls for at least a request for determination before any cutting.
Massachusetts has no state arborist license. Some towns have adopted bylaws that protect large private trees during construction or more broadly, among them Newton, Wellesley, Brookline and Cambridge. Check with the town before removing a big healthy tree.
Massachusetts pests that affect removal decisions
| Pest | Where | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Asian longhorned beetle | Worcester and surrounding towns | A regulated area of about 110 square miles. Hardwood, brush and firewood may not leave it. |
| Emerald ash borer | Most of the state | Dead ash near houses and roads need prompt removal |
| Spongy moth | Statewide in outbreak years | Repeated defoliation from 2016 to 2018 killed many oaks |
| Beech leaf disease | Spreading from the southeast | Beech decline over a few years |
| Winter moth | Eastern counties | Now largely controlled by an introduced parasitic fly |
Cape, Boston suburbs, Worcester hills and Berkshires
- Cape Cod and the Islands
- Pitch pine and scrub oak on sand. Salt wind, shallow roots and pine beetle.
- Greater Boston
- Large maples and oaks on small lots, with wires on most streets. Removals are rigged in pieces.
- Worcester County
- Ice exposure and the beetle quarantine. Wood disposal has to follow the regulated-area rules.
- Berkshires and hill towns
- Heavy snow, steep drives and long distances between jobs.
Your tree or the town's
Likely a public shade tree
- Stands between the sidewalk and the road
- Sits inside the stone wall line along a country road
- Was planted or has been pruned by the town
- The town's road layout extends past the pavement
Likely private
- Well back from the road inside your yard
- On your side of a surveyed bound
- Planted by you or a previous owner
- Not near a wetland, stream or pond
When unsure, ask the tree warden before cutting. The penalty for removing a public shade tree without permission can be several times its value.
Timing tree work in Massachusetts
- Act now
A cracked limb hangs over the driveway before a forecast nor'easter
Call now. Schedules fill as soon as a storm is named.
- This week
A dead ash or oak stands within reach of the house
Remove before winter loads it with ice.
- Plan it
You plan to remove trees within 100 feet of a wetland
File with the conservation commission first and allow several weeks.
- Plan it
A mature maple needs structural pruning
Book it for the dormant season.
Massachusetts tree service questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my property in Massachusetts?
Often not, for a tree clearly on private land and away from wetlands. You do need approval near wetlands and streams, for any public shade tree, and in towns with a private tree bylaw.
What is a public shade tree hearing?
When someone asks to remove a healthy public shade tree, the tree warden posts the tree and holds a hearing. If anyone objects in writing, the select board or mayor must approve the removal.
Can firewood leave the Worcester beetle quarantine?
No. Hardwood firewood, brush and logs from host trees must stay inside the regulated area or go to an approved disposal site. Tree companies working there follow a compliance agreement.
Are Massachusetts arborists licensed?
Not by the state. The Massachusetts Certified Arborist and ISA Certified Arborist credentials are voluntary. Verify insurance directly with the insurer.
Tree service in Massachusetts, by phone
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