Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
For a normal tree in your own Pittsburgh yard there is no removal permit and no trunk-diameter limit — the tree ordinance is expressly limited to streets, parks and other public places. What catches private property here is scale, not size. If you are clearing trees or vegetation over more than 10,000 square feet, or clearing on any slope steeper than 25 percent where the Code Official thinks it could destabilize the hillside, you need a land operations permit from PLI. And the street tree between your sidewalk and the curb is city-regulated even though you mow around it.
Size threshold
There is no trunk-diameter threshold for standalone private tree removal. The private-property trigger is area and slope, at section 1003.03(a)(3): a land operations permit is required for "Removal of trees, vegetation or other natural ground cover: A. Over an area in excess of ten thousand (10,000) square feet; B. On any slope with a gradient in excess of twenty-five (25) percent, when in the opinion of the Code Official, the removal of such ground cover could affect the stability of existing slope." A separate 12-inch rule at section 915.02.D applies only during development or site preparation: "The Zoning Administrator shall require the protection and preservation of trees with a diameter of twelve (12) inches or more, measured at a point four (4) feet above grade."
What's protected in Pittsburgh
- Street trees and right-of-way trees. Section 483.05(a): public-area trees "include all trees on City of Pittsburgh property, and on rights of way beside sidewalks and roadways." That is the tree in your verge.
- Trees in any public street, parkway, park or other public place — section 481.01, section 483.03(a).
- Trees 12 inches or more in diameter on a site being developed or prepared — section 915.02.D, with replacement "at a minimum, equal to the combined total diameter of removed trees."
- Any development site over one quarter acre (10,890 square feet) — a tree survey is required under section 915.02.C.
- LS-O Landslide-Prone Overlay District — section 906.04.B bars occupancy and building approvals for any use of land "requiring excavation, fill or removal of vegetation" until the applicant proves it will not increase landslide susceptibility.
- SS-O Steep Slope Overlay District (natural slope 25 percent or greater) — Planning Commission review, and "Vegetation removal solely to create views is prohibited."
- VP-O View Protection Overlay District and Public Realm Districts — permits for "grading or removal of vegetation" are approved only per the adopted guidelines.
- Riparian buffers under Title 13 — "Existing native vegetation shall be protected and maintained within the riparian buffer easement."
How to apply in Pittsburgh
- 1
Street tree or any city tree: file a request with the 311 Response Center — dial 311 inside the city, or 412-255-2621. The city states that "Any request for work on a City Street or Park Tree must go through the City Forestry Division by way of our 311 Response Center."
- 2
A Forestry Supervisor inspects and leaves a yellow card describing the work. Be prepared to wait — the Forestry FAQ warns: "We are currently experiencing a backlog of approximately 18 months for non-emergency work due to staff shortages."
- 3
To use your own contractor instead of city crews: "first call the Forestry Division to explain your situation to see if alternative arrangements can be made." If approved, complete the Tree Work Permit application. "All work must be supervised by an ISA Certified Arborist."
- 4
The permit form states it is "ONLY VALID 30 DAYS FROM ISSUANCE DATE," is "NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED BY PERMIT HOLDER AND CITY FORESTER," and that notification must be made 24 hours before work starts.
- 5
Land operations permit (clearing over 10,000 square feet, or on slopes over 25 percent): apply to PLI on its form with a plot plan showing street address, property dimensions, Allegheny County block and lot numbers, existing and proposed buildings, adjacent streets, and plans describing the nature and extent of the operations. Pay through the OneStop portal or in person at 412 Boulevard of the Allies. PLI cannot accept payment by mail and cannot accept cash.
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Fee
- The dollar amount of the Forestry tree work permit is not published — the official application form's fee line reads "Permit Fees can be found at:" with nothing after it. Land operations permits are billed on PLI's general construction schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) — $6.00 per $1,000 of Construction Value (Minimum: $130 - Maximum: $8,000)," plus a $4.50 state Education & Training Fund charge, a $5.00 digital record retention fee, and a technology fee of $2.00 to $25.00.
- Penalties
- Land operations and zoning, section 924.04.G: "Any person, firm, association, or corporation violating any provision of this Zoning Ordinance, or of the Stormwater Management provisions of Chapter 1003 of Title 10: Building or of Title 13: Stormwater Management, shall upon conviction be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each offense and costs, and in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be imprisoned in the county jail or workhouse for not more than thirty (30) days. Each day a violation is continued shall constitute a separate offense." Article XIII (Trees) has no penalty section of its own, so the general code penalty at section 101.09(a) applies: a fine of not more than $300 and costs per offense, with up to 30 days in default.
- Ordinance
- Pittsburgh City Code, Title 4 (Public Places and Property), Article XIII (Trees), sections 481.01 through 489.09 — section 481.01 and section 483.03 as enacted by Ord. 21-2004, sections 22 and 23, effective 12-2-2004; section 483.05 by Ord. No. 17-2008, section 1, effective 9-8-2008. Title 10 (Building), Chapter 1003 — Land Operations Control, sections 1003.01 through 1003.03, by Ord. 19-2007, section 2, effective 11-19-2007, amended by Ord. No. 12-2019, section 2, effective 3-20-2019. Title 9 (Zoning), section 915.02 by Ord. 40-2005, section 1H, effective 12-30-2005. The code is on eCode360 and the banner reads "Includes legislation through 07-22-2026," with nothing tree-related pending codification.
Worth knowing
- The 24-month aggregation is the detail people miss. Section 1003.02(a) applies the land operations thresholds to work "to be conducted or undertaken within any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months," so you cannot phase a large clearing into small pieces to stay under 10,000 square feet.
- None of the three exemptions in section 1003.03(b) covers tree or vegetation removal, and there is no owner-occupant or single-family carve-out from the land operations permit.
- The city can force you to remove your own tree. Section 483.04(a): "Whenever the Department of Public Works determines that any tree on any private premises in the City is in danger of falling in or across any public street, or is a danger to public safety because of decay or lack of proper support, the Department may notify the owner ... that it is the duty of such person to remove, prune or cut down the tree." If you do not, the city does it and bills you.
- Overhanging branches: if limbs from your private tree obstruct a street, street light or fire alarm wires, section 483.03(b) gives you a compliance deadline "which shall not be less than ten (10) days" before the city trims and bills you.
- Pittsburgh has no arborist or tree-contractor license. A full-code search for "arborist" returns nothing. Section 483.03(a) does let the Director "issue annual permits to those companies regularly engaged in the business of cutting or trimming trees." A job that triggers a Title 10 permit does pull in general contractor registration under section 751.01, which costs $90 initially and annually.
- Street tree removal appeals are open to anyone. Section 483.05(e): "Any citizen of the City of Pittsburgh may make a written appeal of the removal to the Urban Forester." Notice runs six weeks, appeals within three weeks of posting. Verified hazards are removed "without notice or appeal."
- Call Pennsylvania One Call before you plant or dig — 800-242-1776, or 811. The Forestry FAQ says to do this always.
- Tree Pittsburgh is listed by the city as a forestry partner, but it is a nonprofit and no city page routes permit applications to it. Permits go through Forestry and 311.
- Two internal inconsistencies in the code, reported rather than resolved: section 1003.27 points to a fee section (1003.31) that was repealed by Ord. 12-2019; and Title 13 measures DBH at 4.5 feet while the zoning provision it cross-references, section 915.02.D, measures at 4 feet.
- Chapter 918 (Landscaping and Screening) does not restrict tree removal — section 918.01.B limits it to development under Site Plan Review, Project Development Plan and Final Land Development Plan review.
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.
- — The dollar amount of the Public Works Forestry tree work permit fee. The official form leaves the fee field blank and the Forestry FAQ says only "pay the required fees."
- — How PLI computes "Construction Value" for a land operations permit that consists purely of tree clearing, so the actual dollar cost of that permit for a homeowner cannot be stated.
- — There is no city web page giving step-by-step homeowner instructions for the land operations permit; the procedure above comes from the code text and PLI's general permit pages.
- — Which parcels fall inside the LS-O, SS-O or VP-O overlay districts. That requires the city zoning map.
- — Whether a Certificate of Appropriateness is required for tree removal in a City Historic District.
Sources
- Pittsburgh City Code, Title 4 Article XIII — Trees (eCode360, current through 07-22-2026)
- Pittsburgh City Code section 483.03 — Removals and Trimming
- Pittsburgh City Code section 1003.03 — Land Operations Control, when a permit is required
- Pittsburgh City Code section 915.02 — Environmental Standards, tree protection and replacement
- City of Pittsburgh — Forestry Division
- City of Pittsburgh — Forestry FAQ (private contractors, ISA arborist requirement, backlog)
- City of Pittsburgh — Tree Work Permit application (PDF)
- City of Pittsburgh PLI — 2026 Fee Schedule (PDF)