Tree By-law
Brookline has a sizable urban forest made up of thousands of trees that filter out pollutants and clean our air, that reduce our energy costs by providing shade and protection from the wind, and that help reduce the stress and strain of urban living by reducing noise and providing us with natural beauty. There are over 11,000 street trees on public land that are managed by the Town, but the vast majority of our trees are found on private property.
Town of Brookline Enacts New Tree Preservation Bylaw and Regulations
This Bylaw was developed, reviewed, and enacted by Town Meeting in 2022 and approved by the Attorney General’s office in 2023 and amended in 2025. A brief summaryof the bylaw can be found here. A full text of the bylaw and all associated rules and regulations can be found on the Town’s Website.
This new Bylaw aims to provide enhanced protections for private trees within the community. As stated in the Bylaw, “The intent of this Tree Preservation Bylaw is to encourage the preservation and protection of trees in connection with significant demolition and/or construction activity by designating protected trees, and by requiring mitigation for trees that are removed by either the replanting of trees or the collection of fees to support the Town’s tree planting and maintenance efforts.”
If protected tree(s) are being removed, or if construction, demolition, or excavation work is proposed within 30 feet of protected tree(s), a Tree Impact and Removal Permit must be obtained prior to the commencement of any work. Unless exempt, removal of protected tree(s) requires mitigation through replanting or a payment into the Tree Preservation Fund.
The purpose of Brookline’s Tree Preservation By-law (effective March 27, 2025) is to preserve, protect, and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the public by supporting the preservation and protection of the Town’s urban tree canopy. This by-law applies to all trees in Brookline greater than six (6) inches in Diameter at Breast Height (DBH).
The by-law is enforced in accordance with the Tree Preservation By-law's Rules and Regulations.
What is a Protected Tree?
- Any existing tree with a DBH of six (6) inches or greater, measured at 4.5 feet above the ground.
- Any tree that is replanted to mitigate for the removal of a protected tree, even if it’s smaller than 6” in DBH.
- Invasive Species are protected trees, unless otherwise determined by the Town’s Reviewing Agent.
Applicants can visit the Town’s Website to access the permit. The Department of Public Works will collaborate with other Town Departments and staff to implement and enforce this new Bylaw.
For any questions related to this new Bylaw, please direct inquires to the Town’s Tree Warden at 617-730-2088 or jschleifer@brooklinema.gov.