New York
Tree Removal and Tree Service in New York
New York is several tree markets under one name. In the five boroughs the main issue is who owns the tree. On Long Island and in Westchester it is county licensing. Upstate it is snow, ice and a long list of forest pests.
Do I need permission to remove a tree in New York?
For a tree fully on your own lot, usually not from the state. The exceptions are specific: New York City street trees, village and town ordinances in the suburbs, and shoreline cutting inside the Adirondack Park.
- New York City
- Any tree in the sidewalk strip is under the Parks Department. Work on or near it needs a Parks permit.
- Suburban villages
- Many in Westchester and on Long Island require a permit above a set trunk size.
- Adirondack Park
- Cutting close to lakes and rivers is limited by Adirondack Park Agency shoreline rules.
New York tree hazards by region
| Region | Main hazard | Example |
|---|---|---|
| New York City and Long Island | Tropical storms and nor'easters | Sandy in 2012 and Isaias in 2020 each felled thousands of street trees |
| Hudson Valley | Ice and wet snow, summer wind | Heavy snow on leafed-out trees in late October 2011 |
| Western New York | Lake-effect snow | The October 2006 storm in Buffalo damaged most of the city's trees while they were in full leaf |
| North Country | Ice | The January 1998 ice storm stripped forests across the St. Lawrence Valley and northern Adirondacks |
City permits, county licenses and state wood rules
In New York City, the Parks Department has jurisdiction over every tree growing in the public right-of-way. Pruning, removing or even digging near a street tree without a Parks permit can lead to substantial fines, and replacement is charged by trunk size.
New York has no statewide arborist license. Several downstate counties, including Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk, require a consumer-affairs license for home improvement contractors, and tree companies commonly fall under it. Ask for the county license number.
Statewide, Department of Environmental Conservation regulations prohibit moving untreated firewood more than 50 miles from its source. Additional quarantine zones restrict wood from areas with Asian longhorned beetle on Long Island and from oak wilt sites. A legitimate company knows where your wood can legally go.
Pests that change what can be done with a New York tree
- Oak wilt
- Confirmed at scattered sites from Long Island to the Capital Region. The state asks that oaks not be pruned in spring and summer, when sap beetles spread the fungus.
- Emerald ash borer
- Across most of the state. Dead ash is hazardous to climb within a couple of years.
- Beech leaf disease
- Now widespread and killing beech of all sizes.
- Hemlock woolly adelgid
- Heaviest in the Hudson Valley, Catskills and Finger Lakes.
- Southern pine beetle
- Killing pitch pine in the Long Island pine barrens.
Backyards with no way in
In Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx many rear yards are enclosed by attached houses. A large tree there is dismantled by a climber and carried out through the building in pieces, or lifted over the roof by a crane parked in the street. Either way the labor is several times what the same tree would take in an open yard.
Crane and lift setups in the street need permits and often a lane closure. Scheduling runs weeks ahead for planned work, which is one reason not to wait until a declining tree is an emergency.
Upstate the access problem is seasonal. Soft ground in the spring thaw keeps heavy trucks off lawns, and deep snow can do the same. Frozen ground in midwinter is frequently the easiest time to bring equipment in.
A New York tree work calendar
| Season | Good for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Removals on frozen ground, structural pruning, all oak work | Assuming a leafless tree is dead |
| Spring | Storm cleanup, hazard inspections as leaves emerge | Pruning oaks. Driving equipment on thawing lawns. |
| Summer | Dead wood removal, clearance pruning of non-oaks | Heavy pruning in drought |
| Fall | Planned removals before snow, pre-winter inspections | Leaving cracked limbs to face the first wet snow |
New York tree service questions
Can I remove the tree in front of my house in New York City?
Not if it is in the sidewalk strip. That is a city tree. Report problems to 311 or the Parks Department. Removing or damaging it without a permit is a violation with fines based on the tree's size.
Do tree companies need a license in New York State?
There is no state arborist license. Some counties license home improvement contractors, which generally covers tree work. Everywhere, ask for liability and workers' compensation certificates.
When should oaks be pruned in New York?
Between late fall and the end of winter. The state advises against pruning oaks in spring and summer because fresh wounds attract the beetles that carry oak wilt.
Can I keep the firewood from my New York tree?
On your own property, yes. Moving it is restricted: untreated firewood may not travel more than 50 miles, and wood from quarantine zones has tighter limits.
Tree service in New York, by phone
Call to be connected with an independent tree company serving your part of New York, or leave your number for a callback.
(888) 555-0142Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call or request goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own prices and schedule. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Request a callback
Leave a number and a tree service provider in your area will call you.