Forestry Services
The Parks Department Central Forestry division and forestry divisions of each borough provide a variety of tree and sidewalk-related services to New York City. A description of each service is below. If you know your service type and would like to submit a request, please use our online forestry service request system to do so.
Street Tree Planting
There are two ways to have a street tree planted in front of your property. You can request a free tree or you can plant one on your own. If you are required to plant because of zoning regulations, please read the Street Tree Planting Requirements for New Buildings.
Request a Tree: Any property owner can request a free street tree by submitting a Service Request through our new forestry service request system or by calling 311. Note: New trees planted through Parks’ free request system cannot fulfill planting requirements for new buildings or alterations.
The Process: Each requested planting location must be surveyed by a forester to determine the site’s suitability and potential infrastructural conflicts. Trees are planted on a first–come, first serve basis. As the availability of trees, number of requests, and duration of planting seasons are variable, not all requests can be satisfied immediately and some may take longer than a year. In order to be considered for a spring planting, a request must be received no later than December 31st, and by July 1st for a fall planting. Trees are only planted during two planting seasons: March 15 – May 15 (Spring) and October 15 – December 15 (Fall). To learn more about the planting process, view our 10 Steps to Planting for a Greener NYC.
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. To apply for a free permit to plant a tree in front of your property, call 311 or download the Tree Planting Permit Application below. All plantings on City streets must be in accordance with Parks’ current Tree Planting Standards (PDF, 605 kB). You may find the Planting Specifications Checklist (PDF, 531 kB) helpful in keeping to these regulations. If you are interested in one–stop planting and permitting, for a moderate donation, the New York Tree Trust will work with you throughout the process from site surveying to species selection to planting. For more information about the Tree Trust, please call (212)360–TREE.
Tree Planting Permit Application (PDF, 182 KB)
Tree Planting Standards (PDF, 605 kB)
Street Tree Planting Requirements for New Buildings
Tree Fund Payment Application (PDF, 52 kB)
Sidewalk Repair
If the 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 conditions. Only one–, two–, and three–family residential property owners are eligible for the Tree & Sidewalks program and should use 311 or our forestry service request system to enroll.
Please note: All requests will be inspected and ranked by the severity of the root damage. High ranking sites will be repaired before less severely damaged sites. 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 resilient concrete in the surrounding sections of sidewalk in order to accommodate future root growth. Not all sites inspected may 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 through 311 or our forestry service request system. 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
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.
Damaged Trees
Use 311 or our new forestry service request system to report a damaged tree. The appropriate Parks Department division will be notified and we'll provide you with a tracking number and details about how your request will be addressed.
Stump Removal
All tree stumps that remain from tree removals conducted by Parks are recorded and registered. Stump removals are dependent on the availability of funding. After a tree stump is removed, Parks will automatically add the site for potential planting through our free tree planting program.
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 use our forestry service request system.
Submit a Forestry Service Request
Use our new forestry service request system to submit a service request, and we’ll route your submission to the appropriate Parks Department division and provide you with a tracking number and details about how your request will be addressed.
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 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. To report illegal tree damage, call 311 or use our forestry service request system.
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 or enter a Service Request using forestry service request system. Parks will review the request 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. Please report unauthorized tree pruning through 311 or our forestry service request system.
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. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine not to exceed $15,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. To report illegal tree damage, call 311 or use our forestry service request system.
Notify Parks of Illegal Tree Damage
Use our new forestry service request system to notify Parks of illegal tree damage, and we’ll route your submission to the appropriate Parks Department division and provide you with a tracking number and details about how your request will be addressed.