Contact town first prior to public shade tree removal, officials remind

Jan 5, 2023

In the wake of last year’s unapproved public shade tree removal, Director of Public Works Tim Barber (who is also Dartmouth’s tree warden) and the newly established Tree Committee are reminding residents to contact the town first prior to any tree work located along public property.

“Roadside trees are tremendously valuable,” Barber wrote in a letter.

Under state law, public shade trees cannot be removed, cut or trimmed without permission from the tree warden. Should the law be violated, residents are subject to fines and penalties.

Last August, a contractor was fined $6,000 for the removal of 12 public shade trees along Wilson Street — the highest penalty for such an infraction. 

If a resident sees a public shade tree that appears to be unhealthy or unsafe, or has another reason that work needs to be done to the tree, Barber says that the DPW should be notified first. Once notified, a town engineer will determine if the tree is in the public way and whether the work was properly permitted.

The DPW should also be notified if you are concerned that a public shade tree has recently been removed or is undergoing trimming or removal by a contractor or neighbor.

“We ask for your vigilance and help protecting our public way trees,” Barber wrote. “They are one of Dartmouth's most valuable natural assets, and they deserve our utmost care and respect.”

For more information on the state’s public shade tree removal rules, visit malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/parti/titlexiv/chapter87