Tree services in Philadelphia: street tree permits, yard trees and city rules

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What is different about tree work in Philadelphia?

The city has a say over every tree in the sidewalk. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation says the city has jurisdiction over street trees, but that the trees are owned by the property owner. It manages all street and park trees and is responsible for planting, pruning and removing street trees, mostly through contracted arborists it oversees. Trees in yards and alleys are a different matter: the city says they are the property owner's responsibility.

Will the city prune or remove the street tree in front of your house?

If it is hazardous, yes, and for free. Parks & Rec says it prunes mature street trees and removes dead and hazardous ones as needed, and you can request pruning, removal or stump removal online or by calling (215) 685-4363 or (215) 685-4362. After a report, the department says someone will come to look within 7 to 10 working days. It will not remove a living, healthy tree, and it says there has to be a valid problem for a tree to come out.

In an emergency, such as a fallen tree or branch blocking the sidewalk or street, or one that has landed on a roof or car, the city says to call 911.

Can you hire your own company to work on a street tree?

Yes, with a permit. The city says that to do anything more than basic care, "such as major pruning or removing", you must get a permit, and that property owners may hire a certified arborist at their own expense. Contractors must obtain a tree work permit from the Street Tree Management office before starting. Ask any company you hire to show you that permit.

Sidewalks are the owner's problem whatever the cause. The city says the Philadelphia Code makes the property owner responsible for keeping the sidewalk safe, with no exception for damage done by tree roots. If a street tree is listed for removal, the owner can have it removed sooner with a Parks & Rec-approved contractor. The city also says roots normally get into a sewer lateral only after the pipe has started to break down, since most roots stay in the top 12 to 24 inches of soil and the lateral averages 6 to 7 feet down.

Do you need permission to remove a tree in your own yard?

For an ordinary house lot, the zoning code's tree rules generally do not apply. Section 14-705 of the city's zoning code sets landscape and tree requirements for site clearing and development on lots of more than 5,000 square feet, but says that, for site clearing not tied to development, none of those requirements apply to lots whose main use is a single-family or two-family home.

Where the section does apply, mainly in development, it is strict. Heritage trees may not be removed without meeting replacement rules or getting a special exception from the Zoning Board. Healthy trees of 2.5 inches or more in diameter that are removed must generally be replaced inch for inch, and waived replacement inches carry an in-lieu fee of $400, $200 or $50 per inch depending on how wooded the lot is. Trees a certified arborist finds dead, diseased or dangerous are exempt from replacement. If you are building on a larger lot, raise trees with your architect or engineer early. The state-level rules are in what Pennsylvania and its towns require.

What licence should a Philadelphia tree company have?

For work on an existing one- or two-family home, the state registration rather than a city licence. Philadelphia says a business that works only on existing one- or two-family dwellings, and needs no special trade license, does not need the city's Contractor License; instead it registers as a home improvement contractor with the state. Businesses doing other construction, demolition or repair work need the city licence. The city's lookup tool lists every actively licensed contractor and any licensing violations, and the state's contractor search covers registrations. For questions, the city says to call 311, or (215) 686-8686 from outside Philadelphia.

What do the Census figures say about Philadelphia homes?

The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimates count 748,270 housing units in the city. Of these, 39.9 percent were first built in 1939 or earlier, against 25.0 percent for Pennsylvania, and 64.1 percent are single-family houses, detached or attached. Renters occupy 48.2 percent of occupied homes, against 30.7 percent statewide.

Is the city dealing with emerald ash borer?

It has a plan. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources lists the City of Philadelphia among the communities with a completed emerald ash borer management plan. For a privately owned ash, the department's advice is to treat only healthy trees of value, starting before they are attacked, and to remove the rest before they become a hazard. The insurance and contract checks that apply to any tree company are in how to choose a tree service. Businesses serving the city are on the Philadelphia tree services page.

Sources

1. Street tree frequently asked questions, City of Philadelphia, Parks & Recreation
2. Request street tree maintenance, City of Philadelphia, Parks & Recreation
3. The Philadelphia Code, Section 14-705, Landscape and Trees, City of Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Code)
4. Get a Contractor License, City of Philadelphia
5. Find a licensed contractor and contractor information, City of Philadelphia
6. 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
7. 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
8. Agrilus planipennis (Emerald Ash Borer), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
9. Home Improvement Contractor Search, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General