Tree Removal Regulations by State: All 50 States + DC Ranked
Tree removal regulations vary dramatically across the United States. States like California, Oregon, Washington, and Maryland have comprehensive tree protection laws, while many states in the Great Plains and Deep South have virtually no regulations. This ranking shows every state's tree removal regulation level, whether permits are required, protected species, and key requirements. Click any state for detailed city-level data.
All States Ranked by Tree Removal Regulation
States are ranked from strictest to least regulated. The "State Tree Law" column indicates whether the state has a statewide law addressing tree removal (beyond just timber harvest). Many states without state-level laws still have cities with strict local ordinances.
| # | State | Regulation | State Tree Law | Protected Species | Heritage Min. | Replacement | Arborist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California (CA) | Strict | Yes | Coast Live Oak, Valley Oak, California Black Walnut +4 more | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | District of Columbia (DC) | Strict | Yes | American Elm, White Oak, Willow Oak +1 more | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Hawaii (HI) | Strict | Yes | Koa, Ohia Lehua, Wiliwili +3 more | 18" | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Maryland (MD) | Strict | Yes | White Oak, Wye Oak descendants | 30" | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | New Jersey (NJ) | Strict | Yes | Atlantic White Cedar, Red Oak | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | New York (NY) | Strict | Yes | None specifically listed | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Oregon (OR) | Strict | Yes | Oregon White Oak, Pacific Yew, Western Red Cedar | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Washington (WA) | Strict | Yes | Western Red Cedar, Pacific Madrone, Garry Oak | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Arizona (AZ) | Moderate | Yes | Saguaro Cactus, Ironwood, Palo Verde +1 more | N/A | No | No |
| 10 | Connecticut (CT) | Moderate | Yes | Charter Oak descendants | 24" | No | No |
| 11 | Florida (FL) | Moderate | Yes | Mangrove, Bald Cypress, Sabal Palm +2 more | 24" | Yes | No |
| 12 | Maine (ME) | Moderate | Yes | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 13 | Massachusetts (MA) | Moderate | Yes | American Elm | 24" | Yes | No |
| 14 | Minnesota (MN) | Moderate | Yes | American Elm | 24" | No | No |
| 15 | New Hampshire (NH) | Moderate | Yes | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 16 | Rhode Island (RI) | Moderate | No | Red Maple | 24" | No | No |
| 17 | Vermont (VT) | Moderate | Yes | Sugar Maple | 24" | No | No |
| 18 | Virginia (VA) | Moderate | Yes | None specifically listed | 24" | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Wisconsin (WI) | Moderate | Yes | None specifically listed | 24" | No | No |
| 20 | Colorado (CO) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 21 | Delaware (DE) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 22 | Georgia (GA) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 23 | Illinois (IL) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 24 | Louisiana (LA) | Light | No | Bald Cypress | 24" | No | No |
| 25 | Michigan (MI) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 26 | Nevada (NV) | Light | No | Single-leaf Pinyon Pine, Bristlecone Pine | N/A | No | No |
| 27 | North Carolina (NC) | Light | No | None specifically listed | 24" | No | No |
| 28 | Ohio (OH) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 29 | Pennsylvania (PA) | Light | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 30 | South Carolina (SC) | Light | No | None specifically listed | 24" | No | No |
| 31 | Texas (TX) | Light | No | None specifically listed | 24" | No | No |
| 32 | Alabama (AL) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 33 | Alaska (AK) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 34 | Arkansas (AR) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 35 | Idaho (ID) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 36 | Indiana (IN) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 37 | Iowa (IA) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 38 | Kansas (KS) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 39 | Kentucky (KY) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 40 | Mississippi (MS) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 41 | Missouri (MO) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 42 | Montana (MT) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 43 | Nebraska (NE) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 44 | New Mexico (NM) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 45 | North Dakota (ND) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 46 | Oklahoma (OK) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 47 | South Dakota (SD) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 48 | Tennessee (TN) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 49 | Utah (UT) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 50 | West Virginia (WV) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
| 51 | Wyoming (WY) | Minimal | No | None specifically listed | N/A | No | No |
Regional Tree Regulation Patterns
West Coast: Strict Urban Protections
California, Oregon, and Washington all have state-level tree laws and many cities with comprehensive tree ordinances. Portland's Title 11 Tree Code, Seattle's tree protection ordinance, and California's oak preservation laws are among the strictest in the country. Protected species, heritage tree designations, arborist report requirements, and replacement ratios up to 3:1 are common. Fines can exceed $100,000 per tree in some California cities.
Northeast: Moderate to Strict with Local Variation
Northeastern states generally have moderate to strict regulations, driven by a combination of state environmental laws (wetland protections, shoreland zoning) and strong municipal ordinances. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York all have state-level tree protections. New York City, Boston, and many suburban communities in New Jersey and Connecticut have detailed tree permit requirements.
Southeast: City-Driven Protections
Most Southern states lack statewide tree laws, but individual cities can be surprisingly strict. Atlanta has one of the strongest tree ordinances in the country. Charleston, Hilton Head, Savannah, and Miami all have comprehensive tree protection. Florida's statewide mangrove protection adds a unique dimension. However, states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee have minimal regulation overall.
Great Plains and Mountain West: Minimal Regulation
States in the Great Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, the Dakotas) and Mountain West (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah) generally have the least tree regulation in the country. These states emphasize property rights, and trees are often less abundant. Regulations that do exist typically cover only street trees or trees on development sites. Private property tree removal is largely unrestricted.
About This Data
Tree removal regulations in our database are compiled from state statutes, municipal codes, city arborist office publications, and forestry department resources. Regulations are current as of 2026. Because most tree regulations operate at the local level, the state-level regulation rating reflects the general regulatory environment across the state. Individual cities within a state may be significantly stricter or more lenient than the state-level assessment suggests.
"Heritage tree diameter" shows the minimum diameter at breast height (DBH) for heritage or significant tree designation, where applicable at the state or most common local level. "Protected species" lists trees with specific legal protections under state law. Use our lookup tool or individual state pages to find city-specific requirements.