Tree Service in Chelmsford, MA

Rules and permits

Who decides about trees in Chelmsford

In Chelmsford, a tree at the road is a public shade tree under the care of the Tree Warden, a job the DPW Director holds, and taking one down goes through a hearing under the state's public shade tree law (November 2025 tree hearing minutes). On the eleven scenic roads and near wetlands, the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission have a say as well.

Tree Warden

DPW Director; DPW, 9 Alpha Road, 978-250-5228

Scenic roads

11 designated; trees 6 in. and up in the right-of-way need a Planning Board hearing

Wetland no-disturb

No removal of vegetation within 25 ft of a resource area

Burning

Brush allowed with a $10 Fire Department permit, in season

Curbside brush

5 pickups a year; 3 in. by 6 ft, tied, up to 3 piles

Public shade trees and the town bylaw. The town's Trees bylaw puts the care and management of public trees with the Tree Warden or a designee (Trees bylaw). It commits the town to replacing every public shade tree it removes one for one, with the Tree Warden choosing the type, size and spot, and it creates a five-member Tree Replacement, Establishment and Enhancement (TREE) Committee to look after the long-term health of public trees (Trees bylaw text). At the November 2025 hearing, two shade trees in the town right-of-way were approved for removal for a sidewalk, and the minutes note the town plans to plant at least 40 more trees in 2026 (hearing minutes). The bylaw covers public trees; we found no town permit for cutting a tree on private land outside the scenic road and wetland rules below.

Two Chelmsford quirks. Willows within 50 feet of a town drainage system or drainage easement are declared a nuisance; the Tree Warden notifies the owner, who has 30 days to abate. And builders of three or more houses must plant one tree per lot, two on a corner lot, before the street is paved (Trees bylaw text).

The eleven scenic roads. The Scenic Roads bylaw designates:

• Byam Road, Robin Hill Road to Acton Road
• Garrison Road, Littleton Road to Hunt Road
• Crooked Spring Road, School Street to Meadowbrook Road
• Worthen Street, entire length
• Crosby Lane, entire length
• High Street, Acton Road to Locust Road
• Parker Road, Concord Road to Acton Road
• Robin Hill Road, entire length
• Mill Road, entire length
• Main Street, Lovett Lane to the Westford line
• School Street, Graniteville Road to Main Street

On those stretches the bylaw protects trees six inches or more in diameter, measured four feet off the ground, and also regulates trimming major branches or cutting roots in or along the right-of-way; taking down more than 5 feet of stone wall triggers it too. The request goes to the Planning Board in writing with a certified list of abutters within 300 feet and a fee. The Board must hold its hearing within 30 days of the request and decide within 21 days after it closes, and no work starts until the public shade tree law is satisfied. Consent from the Planning Board doesn't stand in for the Tree Warden's, or the other way around. The Tree Warden can remove a tree or limb that endangers the public, including one threatening utility lines, without a hearing, and the Building Inspector enforces the bylaw (Scenic Roads bylaw). Questions go to the Office of Community Development at 978-250-5231 (Planning Board).

Wetlands: 25, 30, 50 and 100 feet. The Conservation Commission administers both the state Wetlands Protection Act and the town's own Wetlands Bylaw, Chapter 187 (Conservation Commission). The bylaw's buffer zone runs 100 feet from resource areas, and 200 feet along rivers. Removing trees or shrubs there counts as altering a resource area and needs the Commission's approval unless exempt. The bylaw prohibits land disturbance within 25 feet, impervious surfaces within 30 feet and, on lots of 40,000 square feet or more, building within 50 feet, with waivers possible for substantial hardship (Chapter 187). The Commission's regulations spell out that the 25-foot strip means no grading, filling, excavation or removal of vegetation. Vista pruning is allowed only more than 50 feet from the resource area or the mean annual high water line, whichever is farther, and state-listed invasive plants can be removed from the buffer or riverfront area after consulting the Commission or its agent. A request for determination is filed on WPA Form 1, with plans that show the 50-, 30- and 25-foot lines (Wetlands Bylaw Regulations). The Conservation Agent is at 978-250-5231, option 2, at 50 Billerica Road.

Before anything goes in the ground. Massachusetts defines excavation broadly, from digging and augering to grading, and requires that Dig Safe be notified at least 72 hours beforehand, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays (M.G.L. c.82 §40A, definition of excavation, c.82 §40). When a contractor is hired, Dig Safe suggests the contractor make that call (Dig Safe FAQs); talk it through with whoever does the work.

Lines down. Chelmsford's electric utility is National Grid (state utility lookup). For a wire down with a tree, report it to National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 or call 911 (National Grid trees page), and keep 30 feet or more away from it (power line safety).

Last verified November 2026. Fees, restrictions and deadlines on this page are due for re-checking by January 2027. New England Tree Service is a referral service. We don't cut trees, request hearings or file with the conservation commission.