Do you need a permit?
No permit required for most private trees
Rochester's tree-cutting rule is written for public ground: "A person must not cut down any tree in a public street or place" without the written consent of the City Forester. We found no permit requirement in the city code for removing a tree standing entirely on your own property. The City Forester can, however, order you to remove a private tree that is dangerous or diseased — and bill you if you do not.
What's protected in Rochester
- Any tree in a public street or place — cutting it down, cutting or trimming a branch, pruning, spraying or attaching a guy wire all need the City Forester's written consent (§ 89-9A)
- Trees along city streets, in parks and in cemeteries — the Forestry Division cares for more than 70,000 public trees
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Penalties
- § 89-12: a violation of Chapter 89 is punishable by a fine not exceeding $150 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or both, or by a penalty of not less than $5 and not more than $500 recovered by the City in a civil action.
- Ordinance
- Code of the City of Rochester, Chapter 89 — Property, Care of, § 89-9 (Trees) and § 89-12 (Penalties)
Worth knowing
- § 89-9H: where the City Forester finds a tree dangerous or detrimental to life, health or safety, or detrimental to the health or survival of other trees, he or she may order the tree removed and serve the order on the owner of the premises. If it is not complied with within 10 days (or a shorter time the Forester designates), the City may do the work and assess the expense against the property.
- § 89-10: tree services, landscapers and gardeners hired to remove trees or cut limbs must dispose of all resulting material at their own cost, and may not leave it in the street or between the curb and sidewalk for a City department to collect.
- § 89-9F: during building erection or repair, or street grading, paving or curbing, suitable guards must be placed around all nearby trees on highway, park or other public property.
- § 89-9G: accidental damage to a public tree must be reported to the Forestry Division within 48 hours; the Division does the repair or replanting and collects the expense from whoever caused it.
- Rochester has been a Tree City USA community since shortly after the program began in 1976 and was designated a Tree City of the World in 2026.
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.
- — Any fee for the City Forester's written consent.
- — Whether Rochester's zoning code (Chapter 120) adds tree-preservation, landscaping or replacement requirements when a private lot is developed. If you are building, ask Forestry or the Bureau of Buildings before you clear.