tree removal staten island

Tree Removal Permits in Staten Island

Street Trees:

Street trees in Staten Island need a permit from the NYC Parks Department for removal or pruning. Being a suburban-like city of an island, Staten Island holds more tree-lined streets compared with other boroughs. Many can be found lining neighborhoods such as Tottenville and New Dorp. With the exposure to the coast, street trees are very liable to be damaged by storms all over the island, especially within neighborhoods closer to the water.

Private Property Trees:

For most tree removal activities on private property, a permit is not required; however, there are some exceptions in areas covered by Staten Island’s Special Natural Areas Districts, where tree removals are highly regulated to preserve the natural landscape of an area.

Environmental Considerations:

Special Natural Areas Districts (SNADs): For Staten Island, these refer to places such as Todt Hill and Midland Beach, where landscapes and tree removals are highly regulated in order to preserve the nature within the area. Because of this, in such a zone for instance, one may be required to obtain a permit anytime there’s a major change in trees or landscape.

Any property adjoining wetlands or coastal zones in Staten Island has environmental preserves overlooking them, and thus it is very considerate to the ecosystem as it removes trees from those properties.

Distinguishing Private and Public Trees

A street tree is any tree planted along sidewalks, or in public spaces, usually on the street side of the sidewalk and managed by the city. Private trees are located on your own property and fall under your responsibility unless special rules apply-such as when a tree falls within a historic district or protection area. Additional factors involve trees lying near wetlands, parks, and coastlines, where special agencies may need extra permits to maintain the natural habitats.

Note: As per the New York Park Department, it is the property owners duty to know whether a tree is on their property or on City property. Homeowners should check their title survey for property lines to prevent problems when removing or working on trees in their yard.