Tree Service in Lowell, MA

Rules and permits

Who decides about trees in Lowell

In Lowell, a tree in a public way, park or on other city property is a protected shade tree: pruning it takes a tree work permit from the Tree Warden, and removing it takes a separate permit issued only after a Tree Board hearing (Lowell Shade Tree ordinance). We found no city permit for taking down a tree on private land, outside the wetland rules below.

City or private tree?

DPW Street Department, 978-674-1807 (ownership check)

Street tree work

Tree Warden permit to prune; Tree Board hearing to remove

Wetlands

Conservation Commission reviews work within 100 ft; cutting trees counts as an alteration

Open burning

Banned in Lowell, fire pits and chimineas included

Brush at the curb

Under 3 ft long, 3 in. thick and 35 lb; no logs or trunks

What counts as a protected shade tree. The ordinance covers any tree in a public way, a public park or on other public property, and it reaches some trees planted with public money on private land within 20 feet of a public way. Nobody but the Tree Warden may cut, trim or remove one, and that holds even for the person who owns the land it stands on. Any person or company, including city departments and their contractors, needs a tree work permit before pruning one. The ordinance also bars trenching, grading, driving heavy equipment, storing materials or equipment, or spilling harmful chemicals inside a protected tree's drip line unless a permit allows it (Shade Tree ordinance). That matters when a crane or a chipper is set up near the curb.

Removing a street tree. The ordinance lists grounds for removal such as a tree that is dead, diseased, injured, in danger of falling or dangerously close to a structure. The Tree Board, made up entirely of the members of the Conservation Commission, holds a public hearing first, with written notice to every resident whose property directly abuts the tree, and the ordinance ties the hearing to M.G.L. c.87 §3. Permits take effect no sooner than five days after they're issued; an appeal has to be filed within five business days, the Board rules within 30 days, and no tree comes down while the appeal is open. The Tree Warden can still cut trees in the right-of-way when public safety requires it (Shade Tree ordinance).

Replacement and fines. The city replaces each public shade tree it cuts down with one new tree, and with two when the tree removed measured 24 inches or more; replacements of 2½ to 3½ inch caliper go in within a year, or a permit holder can pay into the city's tree replacement revolving fund instead. Breaking the ordinance can bring fines of up to $300 per offense, on a schedule the Tree Board adopts (Shade Tree ordinance).

Day-to-day street tree requests. The DPW Street Department handles pruning requests at 978-674-1807, and says work on a city-owned tree is scheduled within two to three weeks unless it is judged an imminent hazard (tree pruning requests). For a large limb lying in the road and blocking traffic, call the Street Department or DPW office staff right away at 978-674-1807 or 978-674-4111 (limb in the road). Lowell 311 takes general requests at 978-674-4311 during business hours and around the clock through its app (Lowell 311).

Scenic roads. We found no designated scenic roads on the city's site. The open space plan describes Clark Road as a scenic landscape, which is a description, not a scenic road designation (open space plan).

Wetlands and the rivers. The Conservation Commission reviews work in resource areas under both the state Wetlands Protection Act and the City Wetlands Ordinance, such as projects within 100 feet of wetlands; questions go to the Conservation Commission staff (Conservation Commission). The city ordinance reaches work within 100 feet of the bank of a perennial or intermittent stream and of any lake, river, pond or stream, and it defines "alter" to include cutting and moving trees. It doesn't write a fixed no-disturb distance into the ordinance itself. Filings include a permit application or request for determination, and abutters within 300 feet are notified (City Wetlands Ordinance). The commission's main application is required for every filing.

Grinding and digging. State law treats any operation that moves earth or other material in the ground, including digging, augering and grading, as excavation, and requires notice to Dig Safe at least 72 hours ahead, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays (M.G.L. c.82 §40A, definition of excavation, c.82 §40). Dig Safe recommends that a hired contractor place the call (Dig Safe FAQs), so ask the tree company how it handles Dig Safe on your job.

Wires. National Grid serves Lowell (state utility lookup). If a line comes down with a tree, stay at least 30 feet away and call 911 or National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 (National Grid power line safety).

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