TREE REMOVAL PERMIT

These permits are issued as stand-alone permits for individual property owners, but are more frequently issued in conjunction with other environmental permits being applied for in conjunction with the development of a property.

Tree removal and protection requirements are contained in the Environmental Management Act, Chapter 10, Article VII of the County Code of Laws.

Protected trees include:

• Any tree having a diameter of 12 inches DBH** or greater.

• Any tree within a canopy road tree protection zone.

• Any tree located in a wetland.

** To measure the diameter of tree at breast height (DBH). First, measure inches around the tree at the height of 54 inchesabove the ground, then divide the number of inches by 3.14. The resulting number equals the diameter of the tree (DBH).

The Critical Protection Zone (CPZ)

During construction, all areas surrounding the tree trunk of a protected tree within a minimum of 75 percent of the radius of the critical protection zone must be protected from all development activity (including material stockpiling, parking and other related construction activity). How do you measure the CPZ? The CPZ is the area surrounding a tree within a circle described by a radius of one (1) foot for each one (1) inch of the tree's diameter at 54 inches above the ground (DBH). Seventy five (75) percent of the CPZ is protected against encroachment by development or related activity.

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