Providence, Rhode Island
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Providence
Providence is one of the few New England cities that regulates large trees on private property. A tree 32 inches or more in diameter is a significant tree, and it cannot be removed without the City Forester's permission.
- County
- Providence
- Tree rules
- City Forester, Parks Department Forestry Division
- Key local rule
- Significant trees, 32 inches in diameter or larger, need permission to remove on public or private land
- Electric utility
- Rhode Island Energy
- Main hazards
- Hurricanes, tropical storms, nor'easters, standing dead oaks
The significant tree rule
The Providence Zoning Ordinance defines a significant tree as any tree 32 inches or more in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. The rule applies on both public and private land. No significant tree may be removed without prior permission from the City Forester, who has 30 days to decide on a request.
Permission can be granted when the tree is in poor health with little expected life left, when it poses a danger to people or property that cannot be avoided, or when it prevents development that otherwise complies with the ordinance and no alternative exists.
Removing a significant tree without permission, or killing one through careless construction, carries a fine equal to the tree's value. Separately, Rhode Island requires that tree work for hire be done by or under a state-licensed arborist.
How do I know if my tree is 32 inches?
Measure around the trunk at 4.5 feet above the ground and divide by 3.14. A circumference of about 100 inches, a little over eight feet, equals a 32-inch diameter.
- Close to the line
- Ask the City Forester to confirm before any work is scheduled.
- Under the size
- No city permission is needed for a private tree, though the arborist license still applies.
- Street trees
- Any size is the city's. Request service from the Forestry Division.
East Side oaks and triple-decker yards
The largest private trees in Providence are on the East Side. Around Blackstone Boulevard, Wayland Square and College Hill, red oaks, beeches, lindens and copper beeches planted in the late 1800s now exceed three feet in diameter, squarely within the significant tree rule.
Across the river in the West End, Olneyville, Elmwood and the North End, housing is dense two- and three-family stock. Yard trees there are more often volunteer Norway maples and tree-of-heaven growing along fences, and the challenge is fitting ropes and people into the space.
The city has added thousands of street trees through a neighborhood planting program that pairs residents with the Forestry Division. Those young trees belong to the city once planted.
Hurricanes and Providence
| Storm | Year | What it did here |
|---|---|---|
| Great New England Hurricane | 1938 | Flooded downtown and felled trees across the city. Led to the hurricane barrier. |
| Carol | 1954 | A second downtown flood and heavy tree loss |
| Bob | 1991 | Widespread limb and tree failures, long outages |
| Irene and Sandy | 2011 and 2012 | Tropical-storm wind was enough to down many street trees |
| Isaias | 2020 | Brief, violent gusts in full leaf |
Tree health issues in the city
- Dead and declining oaks
- The statewide die-off after the 2015 to 2017 moth outbreak reached the city's wooded edges and parks.
- Emerald ash borer
- Confirmed in Rhode Island in 2018. Street ash are being treated or replaced.
- Beech leaf disease
- A concern for the East Side's old beeches. Have striped or curled leaves checked.
- Norway maple decline
- Aging street maples with decay and girdling roots.
Steps for a large Providence tree
- Plan it
The tree is 32 inches or more and you want it removed
File a request with the City Forester and wait for the decision.
- Act now
A significant tree is an immediate danger
Call the Forestry Division and a licensed arborist the same day. Document the hazard.
- Plan it
Construction is planned near a big tree
Set up root protection first. Killing the tree by negligence is fined like removing it.
- This week
A smaller yard tree is failing
Hire a licensed arborist. See tree removal.
Providence tree service questions
Can I remove a large tree on my own property in Providence?
If it is under 32 inches in diameter, yes. At 32 inches or more it is a significant tree and you need the City Forester's permission first.
What happens if a significant tree is removed without permission?
The ordinance sets a one-time fine equal to the value of the tree, which for a large healthy tree can be substantial.
How long does the City Forester take to decide?
The ordinance gives 30 days from receipt of the request. Urgent hazards can be handled faster by contacting the Forestry Division directly.
Does Providence prune street trees?
Yes. Street trees are city trees, and service is requested through the Forestry Division.
Reach a tree service in Providence
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Providence 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