Forestry Services
Click for more details about each forestry service
Street Tree Planting
There are two ways to have a street tree planted in front of your home. You can request a free tree or you can plant one on your own.
Request a Tree: Any property owner can request a free street tree by filling out a Street Tree Request Form. This form can be filled out with this on–line form.
The Process: The address will be inspected by a forester for one or more new street trees. Trees are planted on a first–come, first serve basis. As the availability of trees, number of requests, and duration of each planting season is variable, not all requests can be filled immediately. In order to be considered for a spring planting, a request must be received not later than December 31st, and by July 1st for a fall planting. In general, trees can be planted between late March and mid May and then again in the fall, late October through mid December. It may take up to one year to fulfill individual requests given the time constraints of the planting seasons. Please be aware that obstacles such as underground utilities, low wires, building entrances, and light posts may prevent a new tree from being planted.
Plant a Tree On Your Own: You can also plant a tree on your own by obtaining a Tree Planting Permit and hiring a landscape contractor directly. To request a free permit to plant a tree in front of your home, call 311. For one–stop planting and permitting, the New York Tree Trust will work with you on selecting the species and site and permitting and planting processes for a donation. Call (212) 360–TREE.
Sidewalk Repair
If your sidewalk in front of your home is damaged due to tree roots, there are two ways to have your sidewalk repaired. You can request a free repair or repair it on your own.
Request a Free Repair: The Trees & Sidewalks Program repairs sidewalks damaged by curbside trees in order to improve tree health as well as sidewalk condition. Only one–, two–, and three–family residential property owners are eligible for this free program and should call 311 for a brochure and inspection.
Please note: All requests will be inspected and ranked by severity of the damage caused by the tree. High ranking sites will be repaired before sites where the damage is less severe. After the inspection is completed, Parks will notify homeowners of the results. Repairs generally involve removing damaged concrete, expanding the growing space for the tree, and installing stronger–than–usual concrete in the surrounding sections of sidewalk in order to accommodate future root growth. Not all sites inspected will be eligible for the program or have work performed.
Repair A Sidewalk On Your Own: Parks can assist you and your contractor if you wish to repair the sidewalk yourself by requesting a free Root and Sidewalk Consultation when calling 311. During the consultation Parks will design your new sidewalk and offer advice on working around tree roots. Tree roots MUST NOT be cut or damaged. The private contractor must obtain a work permit from Parks and DOT before beginning work.
Wood Debris / Damaged Trees
Parks will pick up wood debris from street trees. We will also pick up private wood debris in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and parts of Staten Island. Call 311 to schedule an appointment for wood debris pickup.
Street Tree Wood Debris: Parks will clean up all or part of a curbside tree that is damaged as a result of weather related activity or other causes. If a fallen branch or tree is blocking pedestrian or traffic right–of–way, call 311.
Private Wood Debris (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and parts of Staten Island only): Parks picks up personal woody debris in these areas because of the Asian longhorned beetle. The Asian longhorned beetle is an invasive pest that destroys trees. Currently, the only effective means to control the beetle is to remove infested trees and destroy them by chipping or burning the wood. The beetle has been discovered in parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. As a result, quarantine has been established regulating the movement of any tree wood in these boroughs.
All residents of affected boroughs must schedule an appointment to discard any and all tree prunings, firewood, and other organic woody debris from their property. To schedule a wood debris pickup, call 311 or fill out this form.
This service is NOT for Christmas tree disposal or commercially generated wood waste.
Stump Removal
As a part of PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg has provided us with funding that will allow us to eliminate the backlog of thousands of tree stumps. Starting in 2008, we expect to begin removing hundreds of stumps every week, with a goal of eliminating all outstanding stumps within 2 years.
All tree stumps that remain after tree removal will be removed by Parks. After a stump is removed, Parks will automatically add the site to the free tree planting program.
To have a stump removed, call 311.
Dead Tree Removal
Dead trees reported on streets, parks, playgrounds or other public spaces will be inspected and, if appropriate, removed. Parks' service pledge to citizens with dead trees in front of their houses is to inspect and remove such trees within 30 days of notification. To report a dead tree, call 311 or fill out an online form.
After a tree is removed, Parks will automatically add the site to the free tree planting program.
Tree Work Permit
Any person or contractor wishing to remove or perform work on or within 50 feet of a street tree is required to call 311 and obtain a permit from Parks. Parks may issue a permit for the work following a review process, which may entail additional documentation, and/or modification or alteration of the work plan. All tree work will be completed at the owner's expense.
Examples of work include, but are not limited to installing a sidewalk, driveway or utility line, pruning, hanging holiday lights, or extending the current tree planting space.
It is illegal and punishable by law for citizens to damage, remove, or otherwise harm a street tree or park tree. No work may be performed on or within 50 feet of a street tree without a Tree Work Permit from Parks. Anyone caught removing or otherwise harming a tree should be reported immediately. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine not to exceed $15,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. Call 311 to report illegal tree damage.
Tree Pruning
Since 1996, Parks has pruned established street trees on a neighborhood–by–neighborhood basis. This process allows us to prune a portion of the street trees in every community board every year. However, if a street tree is damaged, has a hanging limb, is hitting a utility line, or blocking a traffic sign or signal, call 311 and Parks will inspect the site and take appropriate action if warranted.
We do not take routine pruning requests.
Certified Citizens Pruners are trained to do light tree pruning which would pertain to any small branches that can be reached from the ground. To find out how you can become a Citizen Pruner, contact Trees New York. If you would like to report unaut orized tree pruning, call 311.
Illegal Tree Work
It is illegal and punishable by law for citizens to damage, destroy, perform unauthorized tree work or otherwise harm a street tree or park tree.
No work may be performed on or within 50 feet of a street tree without a Tree Work Permit from Parks. Unpermitted work can lead to serious tree damage. Anyone caught removing or otherwise harming a tree should be reported immediately. Call 311 to report illegal tree damage. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine not to exceed $15,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. Call 311 to report illegal tree damage.