The significance of trees to the Hudson Valley and Catskills region is well-documented. Many important developments in history have hinged on trees, whether the need to cut them down, protect them from new invasive species, replace them, or put them in new contexts.
In 2024, we put out a blog post that outlined what the laws are around tree removal in the region. This is an update to that post.
As providers of tree removal and tree maintenance services in the Hudson Valley, we are not property rights lawyers, but we want to point homeowners and businesses in the right direction. Below is a town by town breakdown of where to find out about your tree removal rights in the Hudson Valley and Catskills. This is not an exhaustive list, and if you want to be 100% sure, contact your local government officials to ensure that you have the latest rules and regulations.
If you don’t feel like navigating this alone, give us a call at 845-331-6782 or contact us today. We’ll make sure that everything is done the right way with regards to your tree.
Athens
If you remove a tree in Athens, NY, if the stump has a diameter of more than 12 inches, then it must be ground to a level “several inches below” the existing soil and reseeded. Additionally, the Department of Public Works can prune the branches of privately owned trees if they overhang streets and other public rights-of-way.
Catskill
The laws for tree removal in Catskill, NY are as follows:
“No person shall, without first obtaining approval from the Village Board plant, remove, cut, top, prune, destroy or injure any park tree, public tree, roadside tree, street tree or any tree growing in or on a street easement or other public place. Approval for planting a tree on or bordering a public street or for removing, cutting, topping or pruning of a public tree is obtained through written request to the Village Board. In all cases, when a complaint is made every effort shall be made to preserve the tree and the least severe approach shall be utilized.”
The Catskill Village government can be contacted during business hours at (518) 943-3830.
Clermont
Clermont does not appear to have any specific tree removal permits or applications.
Copake
Copake doesn’t appear to have any specific tree removal permits or applications, unless there’s a major site disturbance or alteration of land use.
Ellenville
There don’t seem to be any laws requiring notice to be provided to the Village with regards to tree removal in Ellenville, NY. In the local laws, it just says:
“The owner shall keep all and every part of the premises which he/she owns free from dead or incurably diseased trees and shall be responsible to take the dead and/or diseased trees down and/or remove and destroy the diseased portion thereof.”
Hyde Park
Hyde Park has a fairly lengthy tree removal application process.
“It shall be unlawful for any person to destroy or remove any tree or shrub on Village property, either between the curbline (either existing or proposed) and the adjacent property line along any street or highway shown on the Official Map of the Village of New Hyde Park or in a Village right-of-way, or any tree or shrub planted by the Village without first having obtained a valid tree removal permit.”
…
“Any applicant desiring a tree removal permit, as required by this section, shall submit a written application to the Superintendent, together with a filing fee in such amount as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees.”
Kingston
The laws for tree removal in Kingston, NY are as follows:
If the tree is in between the street and sidewalk, it’s usually a city-owned tree. In February of 2024, the City of Kingston increased the fine for cutting down a city-owned tree from $250 to $1,250. To double-check if your tree is city-owned, check with the City’s Planning Department on their website or by calling (845) 334-3955.
However, since March of 2025, a new tree removal ordinance has been moving forward. It hasn’t been implemented yet, but it would apply to trees on PRIVATE property. Any tree with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of six inches or greater would require a tree maintenance or removal permit.
A tree that has a DBH of 20 inches or more would be identified as a “Heritage Tree” and you’d have to give notice to all neighboring property owners within a 100 foot radius, at least 14 days before the City Tree Commission reviews the permit application.
If a Protected Tree is removed and not replaced, then a fee will be assessed to the property owner; for the removal of a healthy Heritage Tree, there’s an additional fee of $150 per inch based on its size.
However, this bill is not yet law, but it has been discussed several times at various levels of Kingston’s government.
New Paltz
Tree removal in New Paltz is a little complicated, depending on if you live in the village or town.
In Village of New Paltz, if your tree is a “shade tree” it is “on public or private property along any public street or thoroughfare in the space or area measured 20 feet from the edge of the curb or road pavement.”
According to the Village laws, “these shade trees cannot be removed without approval of Shade Tree Commission.” You can contact them at shadetree@villageofnewpaltz.org.
In the Town of New Paltz, the tree conservation laws are ever further reaching than the Village’s. If your tree is seven feet tall or taller, and within 55 feet of the center of the roadway, then you must “submit a complete application in writing” to the Town Building Inspector at P.O. Box 550 New Paltz, NY 12561.
“Several exemptions exist which allow for removal of trees without a permit, including
trees that have been severely damaged from storms or other natural causes and trees that
could cause public endangerment.”
Pawling
There don’t appear to be any laws about tree removal in Pawling. If you have a tree that is dead or diseased and constitutes a hazard to the town, Pawling will give you 60 days notice and then come onto your property and remove it, billing you afterwards.
Poughkeepsie
In the City of Poughkeepsie, tree removal laws seem to be simpler than in some other nearby places.
“It shall be the duty of any person or person owning or occupying real property abutting on any street upon which property there are trees to trim or remove such trees so that they will not obscure or interfere with the view of motorists entering any intersection of the city, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks or obstruct the streetlights or traffic signs.”
Red Hook
The Town code includes verbiage about some kinds of Red Hook tree removal requiring a removal permit.
“No person shall remove or otherwise destroy or commit any act which will lead to the eventual destruction of trees located in public parks, street trees and other trees located in Town rights-of-way identified by size and/or location and/or significance in the Community Forestry Management Plan without first procuring a removal permit from the Supervisor or his or her designee. With respect to such trees, the Community Forestry Management Plan may identify pruning practices which can be expected to lead to destruction of such trees. Any such pruning practices would also require a removal permit.”
Rhinebeck
For people seeking tree removal in Rhinebeck, they makes it easy to track down the local laws.
“Only trees within the Right of Way (in the median, or—if in the yard—within 30 feet from the center of the road) require permission from the Village to be pruned or removed. These trees are considered part of the Village’s greater good because they impact the Village’s wellbeing at large by providing shade, cooling, supporting biodiversity and natural beauty. However, Village law states that pruning or removal is the homeowner’s financial responsibility.”
The tree removal request form, to be filed with the Village Clerk, is located here.
Rosendale
You don’t seem to need a permit for tree removal in Rosendale. It appears that public utilities need a permit before trimming or removing trees.
Saugerties
They say that people who want to remove a tree in Saugerties cannot take action without written permission on the following:
“Public trees, which are defined as any trees, shrubs, bushes and all woody vegetation on land lying within a public street or right-of-way within the Village.
Park trees, which are defined as any trees, shrubs, bushes and all woody vegetation on land lying within public parks having names and in all areas owned by the Village and to which the public has access.”