New Haven, Connecticut
Tree Removal and Tree Service in New Haven
New Haven has been called the Elm City since the 1800s, and most of the trees people ask about still stand along its streets. Those belong to the city. A tree fully inside your yard is yours to manage, with a state-licensed arborist for any pruning.
- Region
- South Central Connecticut, on Long Island Sound
- Tree rules
- City Parks Department tree division and the tree warden for public trees
- Key local rule
- Trees in the strip by the curb are public. Private yard trees need no city permit.
- Electric utility
- United Illuminating
- Main hazards
- Tropical storms, nor'easters, wet snow, dead ash and oak
From elm arcades to a mixed canopy
The elms that gave New Haven its nickname lined the Green and the avenues leading from it. Dutch elm disease took nearly all of them in the middle of the last century, and the city has been rebuilding its street canopy since with oaks, maples, lindens, honeylocust and disease-resistant elms.
A local nonprofit tied to Yale, the Urban Resources Initiative, plants street and front-yard trees for residents who agree to water them. Many of the young trees you see in the tree belt came through that program.
The older neighborhoods hold the large trees: East Rock, Westville, Prospect Hill and Beaver Hills have Norway maples, pin oaks and sycamores that are now 80 to 100 years old and reaching the size where failures become serious.
Whose tree is it in New Haven?
Trees in the public right-of-way, including the grass strip between sidewalk and curb, are city trees under the care of the Parks Department's tree division. Connecticut law gives the municipal tree warden control over them, and removing or pruning one without permission can bring a fine.
Report a hazardous street tree to the city. Residents who want faster pruning of a city tree may be allowed to hire a private arborist with the city's approval, so ask the tree division how that works before hiring anyone.
The city does not require a permit to remove a tree that stands entirely on private property. State law still applies: anyone you hire to prune or treat a tree must hold a Connecticut arborist license. Properties along the West River, Mill River and the harbor may also fall under inland wetland or coastal review.
Storms on the Sound
- Isaias, August 2020
- Gusts over 60 mph on trees in full leaf. Much of the city lost power for days.
- Sandy, October 2012
- Surge in Morris Cove and City Point and widespread tree fall inland.
- Irene and the October snow, 2011
- Two major outages in ten weeks, both caused mostly by trees.
- Summer squalls
- Short, violent lines off the hills. A tornado and macroburst hit neighboring Hamden in May 2018.
Problems common to New Haven's older trees
Norway maple with a root wrapped around its own trunk
Girdling roots slowly strangle the tree. The crown thins on that side first.
Pin oak with dead lower limbs over the sidewalk
Normal for the species, and still a hazard to people below.
Ash with pale, flaking bark
Emerald ash borer. Expect removal by lift, not climbing.
Sidewalk slabs lifted beside the trunk
Roots are close to the surface. Repairs that cut them can destabilize the tree.
How lot type affects the work
| Setting | Typical constraint | Usual method |
|---|---|---|
| Two- and three-family houses on narrow lots | Six to ten feet between buildings | Climb and lower in small pieces |
| East Rock and Westville single-family lots | Large trees over slate roofs and garages | Crane from the driveway or street |
| Shoreline streets | Soft ground, salt, overhead wires | Lift truck from the pavement |
| Yards backing onto parks or the rivers | Possible wetland review | Confirm with the city before clearing |
Who to contact in New Haven
- Act now
A limb or tree is on wires
Call 911 or United Illuminating and stay well back.
- This week
A tree in the tree belt is dead or dropping limbs
Report it to the city's tree division.
- Act now
A backyard tree has split or is leaning toward the house
Call a tree service. See hazardous tree removal.
- Plan it
You want a new street tree
Ask the Urban Resources Initiative about its planting program.
New Haven tree service questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in New Haven?
Not for a tree entirely on your own property. You do need the city's permission for any tree in the public right-of-way, and wetland or coastal rules can apply near water.
Will New Haven prune the tree in front of my house?
If it is a city tree, yes, on the city's schedule. Report it through the city's service request system. Ask the tree division before hiring anyone to work on it.
How do I get a tree planted in New Haven?
The Urban Resources Initiative plants trees in front yards and tree belts for residents who commit to watering them for the first few years.
Does my tree company need a license to work in New Haven?
Connecticut requires an arborist license for pruning and tree care done for pay. Ask for the license number and proof of insurance.
Reach a tree service in New Haven
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the New Haven area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day