Trees — Illegal Tree Damage or Unauthorized Pruning

Trees & Parks · NYC Parks / NYPD · NYC Admin Code §18-129

Trees — Illegal Tree Damage or Unauthorized Pruning is enforced by NYC Parks / NYPD under NYC Admin Code §18-129. Severity default: High.

The rule

Unauthorized cutting, topping, or poisoning of street trees is a criminal and civil violation. Fresh cuts, stripped bark, or drill holes in street trees should be reported immediately.

What to photograph

fresh saw cuts on street tree trunk
bark stripped around entire tree circumference
drill holes or nails driven into street tree

How to file a complaint

Photograph tree damage or hanging limb with street sign for location.
For emergencies (limb on wire, blocking road), call 311 immediately.
File under Damaged Tree or Overgrown Tree/Branches.

Official channel: portal.311.nyc.gov or dial 311. Agency: NYC Parks / NYPD.

Penalties & fines

Unauthorized tree damage carries fines up to $15,000 and possible criminal penalties.

What happens after you file

Parks Forestry inspects and schedules pruning or removal. Emergency hanging limbs may get same-day response.

This rule is in our public reference corpus for SEO and training. In-app classification is not enabled yet — file via 311 using the steps above.

FAQ

Can I file anonymously?

311 requires contact information for follow-up. Your identity is not shared with the violator. SidewalkSnitch requires phone verification for filings but does not auto-submit to 311.

Does SidewalkSnitch submit this to 311 automatically?

This rule category is reference-only in SidewalkSnitch today. File directly at 311.nyc.gov or call 311.

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