Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Philadelphia
Philadelphia regulates the tree between the sidewalk and the curb and mostly leaves backyard trees alone. Street tree work needs a permit from Parks and Recreation and a contractor the department accepts.
- County
- Philadelphia
- Tree rules
- Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Street Tree Management
- Key local rule
- Permit required to prune, remove or plant a street tree
- Electric utility
- PECO
- Main hazards
- Derechos, tropical remnants, ice, spotted lanternfly
Who can work on a Philadelphia street tree?
Only the city, or a contractor working under a Parks and Recreation permit. The adjoining owner can request city service or hire an approved arborist themselves, but cannot do the work without the permit.
- City service
- Request an inspection through 311. Wait times for non-emergency pruning can be long.
- Hiring privately
- Faster, but the contractor must meet the department's insurance and qualification requirements and obtain the permit.
- Backyard trees
- No city permit for ordinary removal on a residential lot.
Street tree permits and development rules
Under the Philadelphia Code, street trees are regulated by Parks and Recreation regardless of who planted them. A permit is required for pruning, removal and planting, and removal is normally approved only for dead, dying or hazardous trees or documented conflicts.
The zoning code protects larger trees on sites being developed, including a category of heritage trees that require replacement or special approval. Those rules are triggered by construction, not by a homeowner removing a single yard tree.
Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly quarantine covers the city. Tree companies moving wood and equipment in and out need a state permit, and loads should be checked before they leave the site.
Rowhouse blocks and the wooded Northwest
South Philadelphia, Fishtown, Kensington and much of West Philadelphia are rowhouse blocks with small paved yards. Canopy cover is low, and the trees that exist are street trees or fence-line volunteers. A city-backed program gives away yard trees each spring and fall to raise that cover.
The Northwest is another world. Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, Germantown and Roxborough border the Wissahickon gorge, and houses there sit among oaks, beeches and tulip poplars well over a century old. Lots slope toward the creek, soil is thin over schist, and big trees lean downhill.
On those slopes a removal is rigged from the top down, often with a crane on the street above. Schedule accordingly, and expect the crew to leave low stumps to hold the bank.
Recent tree-damaging storms
- June 3, 2020 derecho
- Severe gusts at midday. Trees fell across the city and suburbs.
- Isaias, August 2020
- Tropical-storm wind, flooding along the Schuylkill, and tornadoes in the region.
- Ida, September 2021
- Record flooding on the Schuylkill and strong tornadoes just outside the city.
- February 2014 ice storm
- Heaviest in the northwestern neighborhoods and suburbs. Outages lasted days.
Lanternfly and other things you will notice
Gray, mud-like patches on bark and fences in winter
Lanternfly egg masses. Scrape them off.
Black sooty mold under a tree in late summer
Honeydew from lanternfly feeding. Unsightly, rarely fatal to mature trees.
Tree-of-heaven along the fence
The insect's preferred host. Removing it helps.
Ash with no leaves at the top
Emerald ash borer. Plan removal before the wood turns brittle.
Planning a removal in a Philadelphia rowhouse yard
Check the tree's position
On the lot line it is shared. Get the neighbor's agreement in writing.
Decide how wood leaves
Through the house, through a rear alley if one exists, or over the roof.
Ask about street use
A chipper or crane at the curb may need a temporary no-parking permit.
Confirm insurance
Pennsylvania has no arborist license, so certificates are your protection.
Philadelphia tree service questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Philadelphia yard?
Not for a typical backyard tree on a residential lot. Permits apply to street trees and to trees on development sites.
How do I get a dead street tree removed in Philadelphia?
Report it through 311. Parks and Recreation inspects and schedules removal. You may also hire a qualified contractor who obtains the street tree permit.
Does Philadelphia give away trees?
Yes. The city's yard tree program offers trees to residents at seasonal giveaway events.
Do I have to remove a tree because of spotted lanternfly?
No. The quarantine governs moving materials. Healthy trees other than tree-of-heaven are normally kept.
Reach a tree service in Philadelphia
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Philadelphia 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