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Tree Damage and Arborcide

It is illegal and punishable by law for citizens to remove, kill, or damage a street or park tree, whether intentionally or accidentally.

No one is allowed to perform any work on a tree unless they are employed by Parks or are under a pruning or removal contract with Parks. Certified Citizen Pruners, who are trained to do light tree pruning by Trees New York, are authorized by the city to prune small branches that can be reached from the ground. Any Citizen Pruner who performs tree work outside of these guidelines is subject to arrest and fine.

Anyone caught removing or otherwise harming a tree should be reported immediately. Call 311 to notify an officer.

To have a damaged tree inspected, call 311.

Examples of Tree Damage


hanging limb image
image of fallen limb
image of dead tree
Branch Cracked & Will Fall
Branch or Limb Has Fallen
Dead/Dying Tree
image of entire tree down
imag eof tree in poor condition
image of uprooted tree
Entire Tree Has Fallen
Tree in Poor Condition
Tree Leaning/Uprooted
image of split tree
 
Tree Trunk Split