Do you need a tree removal permit in Ann Arbor, MI?

For some trees. Ann Arbor requires a permit for certain trees or certain sites, not every tree. Any work on a city-owned street tree in the right-of-way (removal, trimming, planting, stump grinding, treatments) needs a free street tree permit. The city's Unified Development Code protects landmark trees as natural features, and removing them during development reviewed by the city (site plans, PUD site plans, plats) needs approval and replacement trees. The pages we checked do not describe a permit for removing a single private tree outside a development project, so ask Forestry before removing a large tree. Our confidence: medium. Short explanation, not legal advice.

Landmark trees: generally any tree 24 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH), or a tree on the Landmark Tree List at or above its listed size (for example oaks, hickories, honey locust and most maples at 16 inches; ash, beech, black walnut, pines, spruces, sycamore and silver maple at 18 inches; birch, ginkgo, hackberry and others at 12 inches; flowering dogwood, eastern redbud and pawpaw at 8 inches), with a health and condition rating over 50%. Trees on the city's invasive species list do not count. Woodlands are also a protected natural feature. These rules are applied through development review (Natural Features Plan for site plans and plats).

Work in the right-of-way that affects a city-owned street tree (removal, planting, trimming, fertilizing, insect or disease treatment, stump grinding) needs an approved street tree permit. Homeowners may hire a tree care company at their own cost to do this work under a permit. The permit is free, but removing a city-owned street or park tree may carry a canopy loss fee and/or a tree appraisal; the city lists the canopy loss fee at $252 per inch of DBH, minus the caliper inches of replacement street trees.

For non-emergency issues with city trees, such as dead tree removal or pruning, the city asks you to use its Report a Problem tool (A2 Fix It). In development projects, landmark trees that die or are badly damaged by construction within three years must be replaced by the property owner.

Apply for a street tree permit online in STREAM (stream.a2gov.org): register as a guest, then search the Apply screen for "Right-of-Way Street Tree". Forestry: 734-794-6320, trees@a2gov.org. Landmark tree removal for development is handled in site plan review through a Natural Features Plan.

In development review, a landmark tree removed without the required approval must be replaced with native trees equal to at least 200% of its DBH, compared with 50% when removal is approved.

HOA rules can be stricter; check yours. Read your HOA covenants or ask the board before work starts.

Your address, the tree species if you know it, the trunk width measured about 4.5 feet above the ground, photos of the whole tree, and whether it is near the street, a sidewalk or a power line. Ask if a permit is needed and how long it takes.

Some do and some do not. Ask before you sign, and get it in writing who applies and who pays the fee. In many places the property owner is the one responsible for following the rules.

No. It is a short, plain summary of public rules with links to the official sources. For a firm answer on your property, ask the city or a local attorney.