Tree Removal Permits in Bristol, CT

Verified against Bristol city sources · last checked 2026-08-06

Do you need a permit?

No permit required for most private trees

Bristol's tree ordinance says what it covers in its own purpose clause: "the regulation of the planting, maintenance and removal of trees and shrubs on public property within the city." Section 21-12(5) repeats it — the section "provides full power and authority over all trees and shrubs located within streets, rights-of-way and other city property." A tree in your back yard is not covered at any diameter. But read subsection (6)(b) before you cut anything near a street or park: it requires the tree warden's authorization to "Trim, prune, or remove any tree or shrub or portion thereof if such tree or shrub or portions reasonably may be expected to fall on city owned property." That sentence is not limited to city trees.

Size threshold

No size threshold applies to a homeowner. Bristol's Zoning Regulations do contain a 5-inch rule, and it uses an unusual convention worth quoting exactly — caliper measured at three feet, not DBH at 4.5 feet. Section 11.1.2(L): "No healthy, non-invasive tree 5 inches or greater in caliper as measured 3 feet above ground level shall be removed unless so approved by the Commission." That rule is expressly scoped: section 11.1 opens with "The following regulations of this Section 11.1 shall be applicable only to projects subject to a Site Plan Application or Special Permit approval." The same 5-inch figure reappears at section 15.2.5(E)(2), which is triggered only by "removal of more than 400 cubic yards of earth materials from any property in connection with a bona fide construction project."

What's protected in Bristol

Trees and shrubs on city-owned property and in the rights-of-way. Section 21-12(6)(a) bars planting, treating, pruning, removing or otherwise disturbing "any tree, shrub or forested area located on city owned property" without the tree warden's authorization.
Your own tree, if it could fall on city property. Section 21-12(6)(b) requires the tree warden's authorization to "Trim, prune, or remove any tree or shrub or portion thereof if such tree or shrub or portions reasonably may be expected to fall on city owned property, thus having potential to cause damage to persons or property." Read literally this reaches a private tree overhanging a street or park.
The root zone of a city tree. Section 21-12(6)(e) bars causing "damage to the root zone of any city owned tree or shrub by digging a tunnel or trench, moving or storage of construction vehicles, materials or equipment, or changing the grade within the drip line."
Trees in a regulated wetland area. Bristol's Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations define "Regulated area" as "(i) any inland wetland or watercourse as defined in these regulations and (ii) any area within one hundred (100) feet of a wetland or watercourse," and define "Remove" to include "grub, clear cut timber, bulldoze, dragline or blast."
Trees on a site going through Site Plan or Special Permit review, under Zoning section 11.1.2(L).

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee: No fee, because no permit applies to an ordinary private tree. Bristol publishes no fee for tree warden authorization under section 21-12.
Penalties: Section 21-12(7)(b): a violator "shall be subject to a fine not to exceed ninety dollars ($90.00) for each separate offense. Each day during which any violation of the provisions of this section occurs or continues shall be a separate offense. If, as the result of the violation of any provision of this section, the injury, mutilation or death of a tree or shrub located on city owned property is caused, the cost of repair or replacement of such a tree or shrub shall be borne by the party in violation." The tree warden turns findings over to a citation officer under Chapter 23, and citations are appealable under that chapter. State law adds C.G.S. 23-65(b), allowing restoration plus "damages of up to five times the cost of restoration or statutory damages of up to five thousand dollars," and C.G.S. 52-560, awarding "three times the reasonable value" of a tree cut on another's land.
Ordinance: Bristol Code of Ordinances section 21-12, "Tree ordinance," adopted by the Ordinance of February 9, 1999. Section 21-12(3): "In accordance with section 23-58 of the Connecticut General Statutes and section 46 of the City of Bristol Charter, the director of public works is designated as the tree warden." Code codified through the amendments of February 11, 2025, effective February 28, 2025 (Supplement No. 4). Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations as amended November 21, 1988, effective December 12, 1988, superseding the regulations effective October 1, 1976, adopted under authority of the ordinance of March 6, 1973. Bristol Zoning Regulations, effective December 15, 2025. State law: C.G.S. 23-58, 23-59, 23-60, 23-65.

Worth knowing

Public tree removals get five working days of posted notice, not ten. Section 21-12(4)(c): the tree warden "shall post a notice of proposed removal on said tree(s) at least five (5) working days prior to the removal, except when such tree(s) causes immediate danger and is considered a hazard or public nuisance." C.G.S. 23-59 sets ten days for the state process; Bristol's own ordinance sets five for its own removals. Both are recorded here rather than reconciled.
You maintain the strip out front. Section 21-48: "The abutting owner shall maintain the ground surface of the tree border, if any, between the sidewalk and the curb in a neat and graded manner and free of holes and defects which would constitute a danger to pedestrians."
The city pays when its street tree wrecks your sidewalk. Section 21-50: where a sidewalk "has become cracked and/or unsafe as a result of the growth of trees located within the street lines ... the superintendent of public works shall repair or replace such sidewalk at city expense."
The zoning regulations were replaced. The Municode edition of Appendix C still carries a 1968 code with a note that "new zoning regulations adopted by the zoning commission January 7, 1981, became effective February 1, 1981" and "are not set forth herein." The current regulations are a separate document from the city's 2024 rewrite project. Do not rely on Municode Appendix C.
Bristol's wetlands definition of clear cutting reads oddly and is quoted as written: "Clear cutting means the harvest of timber products in a fashion which removes all species of trees down to a two-foot diameter at breast height." Every comparable Connecticut regulation we read says two INCHES. The discrepancy is recorded, not resolved.
Ordinary yard care in a wetland area is permitted as of right. Wetlands regulation 4.1(d) covers "Uses incidental to the enjoyment or maintenance of residential property ... Such incidental use shall include maintenance of existing structures and landscaping, but shall not include removal or deposition of substantial amounts of material from or into a wetland or watercourse."
Bristol does not license tree contractors. The state does, under C.G.S. 23-61b, with a carve-out for work on your own premises.
Eversource conducts scheduled vegetation management in Bristol and the city posts notice of it. Under C.G.S. 16-234(c)(4) the utility may not prune or remove a tree outside the public right-of-way "unless it receives written affirmative consent from the private property owner," and inside the right-of-way you get 15 business days of notice and 10 business days to object in writing.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— How far section 21-12(6)(b) is actually enforced. Read literally it requires the tree warden's authorization before a homeowner removes a private tree that could fall on a street or park. No published city guidance addresses whether that is applied to homeowners. Call Public Works at (860) 584-6125 before cutting a tree that overhangs city land.
— The name and direct number of the current Director of Public Works acting as tree warden.
— Whether the Bristol Zoning Regulations were "Effective December 15, 2025" as the cover page states or "Amended Through: July 1, 2026" as the running page header states. Both appear in the same published document and both are recorded.
— Bristol's Water Department watershed land rules, if any, for vegetation removal.
— Whether Connecticut's traprock ridgeline statute (C.G.S. 8-1aa and 8-2) lists Bristol, and whether the city adopted ridgeline regulations.
— No page on bristolct.gov states affirmatively that no permit is required to remove a private tree. This entry is an exhaustive-absence finding across the full Code of Ordinances table of contents, Chapters 16, 18 and 21, Appendices A and C, and the current Zoning Regulations.

Sources

Who to contact in Bristol

Public Works Department, City of Bristol. Section 21-12(3) makes the Director of Public Works the tree warden. Wetlands: Conservation Commission / Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency.

(860) 584-6125 (Public Works). Conservation Commission / Inland Wetlands Agency: (860) 584-7791 for Land Use. publicworks@bristolct.gov or PWSwitchboard@bristolct.gov Official page

Public Works Department, 111 North Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010

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Size threshold

What's protected in Bristol

Trees and shrubs on city-owned property and in the rights-of-way. Section 21-12(6)(a) bars planting, treating, pruning, removing or otherwise disturbing "any tree, shrub or forested area located on city owned property" without the tree warden's authorization.

Your own tree, if it could fall on city property. Section 21-12(6)(b) requires the tree warden's authorization to "Trim, prune, or remove any tree or shrub or portion thereof if such tree or shrub or portions reasonably may be expected to fall on city owned property, thus having potential to cause damage to persons or property." Read literally this reaches a private tree overhanging a street or park.

The root zone of a city tree. Section 21-12(6)(e) bars causing "damage to the root zone of any city owned tree or shrub by digging a tunnel or trench, moving or storage of construction vehicles, materials or equipment, or changing the grade within the drip line."

Trees in a regulated wetland area. Bristol's Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations define "Regulated area" as "(i) any inland wetland or watercourse as defined in these regulations and (ii) any area within one hundred (100) feet of a wetland or watercourse," and define "Remove" to include "grub, clear cut timber, bulldoze, dragline or blast."

Trees on a site going through Site Plan or Special Permit review, under Zoning section 11.1.2(L).

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee

No fee, because no permit applies to an ordinary private tree. Bristol publishes no fee for tree warden authorization under section 21-12.

Penalties

Section 21-12(7)(b): a violator "shall be subject to a fine not to exceed ninety dollars ($90.00) for each separate offense. Each day during which any violation of the provisions of this section occurs or continues shall be a separate offense. If, as the result of the violation of any provision of this section, the injury, mutilation or death of a tree or shrub located on city owned property is caused, the cost of repair or replacement of such a tree or shrub shall be borne by the party in violation." The tree warden turns findings over to a citation officer under Chapter 23, and citations are appealable under that chapter. State law adds C.G.S. 23-65(b), allowing restoration plus "damages of up to five times the cost of restoration or statutory damages of up to five thousand dollars," and C.G.S. 52-560, awarding "three times the reasonable value" of a tree cut on another's land.

Ordinance

Bristol Code of Ordinances section 21-12, "Tree ordinance," adopted by the Ordinance of February 9, 1999. Section 21-12(3): "In accordance with section 23-58 of the Connecticut General Statutes and section 46 of the City of Bristol Charter, the director of public works is designated as the tree warden." Code codified through the amendments of February 11, 2025, effective February 28, 2025 (Supplement No. 4). Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations as amended November 21, 1988, effective December 12, 1988, superseding the regulations effective October 1, 1976, adopted under authority of the ordinance of March 6, 1973. Bristol Zoning Regulations, effective December 15, 2025. State law: C.G.S. 23-58, 23-59, 23-60, 23-65.

Worth knowing

Public tree removals get five working days of posted notice, not ten. Section 21-12(4)(c): the tree warden "shall post a notice of proposed removal on said tree(s) at least five (5) working days prior to the removal, except when such tree(s) causes immediate danger and is considered a hazard or public nuisance." C.G.S. 23-59 sets ten days for the state process; Bristol's own ordinance sets five for its own removals. Both are recorded here rather than reconciled.
You maintain the strip out front. Section 21-48: "The abutting owner shall maintain the ground surface of the tree border, if any, between the sidewalk and the curb in a neat and graded manner and free of holes and defects which would constitute a danger to pedestrians."
The city pays when its street tree wrecks your sidewalk. Section 21-50: where a sidewalk "has become cracked and/or unsafe as a result of the growth of trees located within the street lines ... the superintendent of public works shall repair or replace such sidewalk at city expense."
The zoning regulations were replaced. The Municode edition of Appendix C still carries a 1968 code with a note that "new zoning regulations adopted by the zoning commission January 7, 1981, became effective February 1, 1981" and "are not set forth herein." The current regulations are a separate document from the city's 2024 rewrite project. Do not rely on Municode Appendix C.
Bristol's wetlands definition of clear cutting reads oddly and is quoted as written: "Clear cutting means the harvest of timber products in a fashion which removes all species of trees down to a two-foot diameter at breast height." Every comparable Connecticut regulation we read says two INCHES. The discrepancy is recorded, not resolved.
Ordinary yard care in a wetland area is permitted as of right. Wetlands regulation 4.1(d) covers "Uses incidental to the enjoyment or maintenance of residential property ... Such incidental use shall include maintenance of existing structures and landscaping, but shall not include removal or deposition of substantial amounts of material from or into a wetland or watercourse."
Bristol does not license tree contractors. The state does, under C.G.S. 23-61b, with a carve-out for work on your own premises.
Eversource conducts scheduled vegetation management in Bristol and the city posts notice of it. Under C.G.S. 16-234(c)(4) the utility may not prune or remove a tree outside the public right-of-way "unless it receives written affirmative consent from the private property owner," and inside the right-of-way you get 15 business days of notice and 10 business days to object in writing.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— How far section 21-12(6)(b) is actually enforced. Read literally it requires the tree warden's authorization before a homeowner removes a private tree that could fall on a street or park. No published city guidance addresses whether that is applied to homeowners. Call Public Works at (860) 584-6125 before cutting a tree that overhangs city land.
— The name and direct number of the current Director of Public Works acting as tree warden.
— Whether the Bristol Zoning Regulations were "Effective December 15, 2025" as the cover page states or "Amended Through: July 1, 2026" as the running page header states. Both appear in the same published document and both are recorded.
— Bristol's Water Department watershed land rules, if any, for vegetation removal.
— Whether Connecticut's traprock ridgeline statute (C.G.S. 8-1aa and 8-2) lists Bristol, and whether the city adopted ridgeline regulations.
— No page on bristolct.gov states affirmatively that no permit is required to remove a private tree. This entry is an exhaustive-absence finding across the full Code of Ordinances table of contents, Chapters 16, 18 and 21, Appendices A and C, and the current Zoning Regulations.