Step 1: find out which government your lot is in
Your mailing address is not a reliable guide. Rockland County has five towns (Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo and Stony Point) with many incorporated villages inside them, and a "Monsey", "Spring Valley", "Suffern" or "New City" address can belong to an incorporated village with its own code. Your property tax bill tells you: if you pay a village tax, the village's rule applies; if not, the town's. When in doubt, call the town building department with your address.
Step 2: check your town or village
| Municipality | Permit needed for a tree at an existing home? | Fee / who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Clarkstown New City, Nanuet, West Nyack, Valley Cottage, Congers, Bardonia Ch. 270 | Sometimes. More than 1 tree ≥8 in DBH per 5,000 sq ft of lot in 3 calendar years; any regulated tree in wetlands, within 25 ft of a drainageway, on steep slopes, in the historic district or tied to new construction. Dead, imminently dangerous (documented within 7 days) and DEC-invasive trees exempt. | Fee / contact: Town fee schedule. DEFM (845) 639-2111 |
| Village of Nyack Nyack Ch. 360 | Yes. Any tree ≥12 in DBH: 1 per tax lot every 3 years with replacement planting; more goes to the Planning Board. Dead/hazardous trees with an arborist report, no limit. | Fee / contact: $50 per tree. Building Dept (845) 358-0548 |
| Village of Upper Nyack Upper Nyack Tree Preservation Law of 2021 (Village overview) | Yes. Trees ≥12 in DBH (≥8 in on steep slopes, within 100 ft of the Hudson or in wetlands) and stands of 5+ trees ≥6 in. More than 2 healthy trees (or 3 dead ones) in 2 years goes to the Planning Board. Emergencies: apply within 48 h with an ISA arborist letter. | Fee / contact: Application fee. Village Building Dept |
| Town of Orangetown Pearl River, Orangeburg, Tappan, Blauvelt, Sparkill, Palisades Ch. 43 § 10.223 | No (existing home). No general residential permit. In the Upper Grandview and South Nyack Mountainous Area CEAs, trees ≥8 in at 54 in stay on sites with a permit application unless the Inspector approves. Site plans/subdivisions show trees and clearing limits. | Fee / contact: None for a plain removal. Building (845) 359-8410 |
| Village of Piermont Piermont Ch. 185 | Usually no. Tree guidelines apply to development applications (new homes, subdivisions, site plans); they exclude normal maintenance and dead, dying or dangerous trees. Planting trees, shrubs or fences between curb and property line needs a Planning Board permit. | Fee / contact: Building Dept (845) 359-1258 |
| Town of Ramapo (unincorporated) Monsey, Hillcrest, Tallman and other unincorporated areas Ch. 258; ramapo.gov permits page | No. No homeowner tree permit; Ch. 258 covers public/shade trees. Tree companies need the Town Landscaping Permit. | Fee / contact: Contractor: $40 per vehicle per year. Building (845) 357-5100 |
| Village of Spring Valley Spring Valley Ch. 79 | No. No permit for private trees; the Village can order dead or hazardous trees removed. Street trees under the Community Forestry Commission. | Fee / contact: Building Dept (845) 352-1100 |
| Village of Suffern Suffern Ch. 251 | Yes. Any tree with a trunk over 12 in diameter (measured 4 in above ground) on private property needs a DPW permit. | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 357-2600 |
| Village of Airmont Airmont, Tallman Ch. 91 | Not for owner-occupied 1–2 family homes. Permit required on vacant land and on property improved with anything other than an owner-occupied 1- or 2-family house (rentals, commercial). Dead and imminent-risk trees exempt. Soil moves/regrading need a soil removal permit. | Fee / contact: Village fee schedule. Building (845) 414-5536 |
| Village of Chestnut Ridge Chestnut Ridge Ch. 133 | No tree permit. No tree removal chapter; a Village Engineer permit is needed for land disturbance (filling, excavation, regrading, stripping), including the disturbance from additions and new houses. | Fee / contact: Building Dept (845) 425-8283 |
| Village of Wesley Hills Wesley Hills Ch. 95 | Only in some cases. Clearing permit for trees ≥10 in DBH on vacant lots; ≥10 in more than 200 ft from the house on lots ≥1.5 acres; ≥6 in within 20 ft of a lot line on lots without a CO. | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 354-0400 |
| Village of New Hempstead New Hempstead Ch. 170 | Only in some cases (see note). Clearing permit for trees ≥12 in DBH more than 200 ft from the house on lots ≥1 acre. A separate tree law (3 trees per calendar year) was heard in 2021; adoption NOT verified, so call first. | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 354-8100 |
| Village of Montebello Montebello Ch. 176 (Village summary) | Yes. Any tree ≥4 in caliper at 4 ft. As of right: 1 tree per 10,000 sq ft per 2 years, max 8 in 2 years / 12 in 6. Dead trees unlimited with proof. Village-licensed tree contractors only. | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 368-2211 |
| Village of Pomona Pomona Ch. 121 | Yes. Any tree ≥20 in circumference at 4.5 ft (about 6.4 in diameter). Max 3 approved per 12 months unless dead/dangerous per a licensed arborist. Imminent danger: remove, then apply within 48 h. | Fee / contact: Village fee schedule. Village Hall (845) 354-0545 |
| Village of Sloatsburg Sloatsburg Ch. 402 § 402-53 | Not for ≤2 trees/yr on most home lots. Trees ≥8 in at 4 ft need a Planning Board permit, except up to 2 trees per year on an existing 1–2 family lot that cannot be subdivided, and dead/dying trees that are an imminent hazard. | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 753-2727 |
| Town of Haverstraw Garnerville, Thiells, Mount Ivy and unincorporated areas Ch. 167 Art. XIII | Only with a building permit. Applies to timbering and building-permit lots: live trees over 6 in (at 4 ft) stay except in permitted areas, with Shade Tree Commission replacements. | Fee / contact: Building Dept (845) 429-2200 |
| Village of Haverstraw Haverstraw Village code TOC | No. No private tree removal chapter. Right-of-way trees are the Village's. | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 429-0300 |
| Village of West Haverstraw West Haverstraw Ch. 93 | No. Community Forestry law covers street and park trees only (no cutting or pruning public trees; fine up to $250). | Fee / contact: Village Hall (845) 947-2800 |
| Town of Stony Point Stony Point, Tomkins Cove, Jones Point Ch. 198 | Only with a building permit. Applies to major timbering and building-permit lots: live trees over 3 in stay except in permitted areas. | Fee / contact: Building Dept (845) 786-2716 |
| Villages of Hillburn, Kaser, New Square, Grand View-on-Hudson | Not verified. We have not verified these villages' tree rules. Call the village hall before any removal. | Fee / contact: Village hall |
Read on ecode360.com and the municipalities' own websites in October 2026, except where the table links to one of our town pages that cites its source. "DBH" is trunk diameter at breast height, about 4.5 ft up; to convert, divide the trunk's circumference by 3.14. Rules change: confirm with the town or village before work starts. If a line says "not verified", we could not confirm the rule and you should call.
Rules that apply everywhere in Rockland
- County contractor license. Under Chapter 286 of the Rockland County Code (Home Improvement Contractors, Local Law 4 of 2026), tree removal at a home is home improvement work, so the company must hold a Rockland County home improvement contractor license and carry insurance. Check it on the county's Licensed Businesses dashboard or call Consumer Protection at (845) 364-3901.
- Street trees. A tree in the strip between the sidewalk and the curb, or anywhere in a road right-of-way, belongs to the road's owner: the town or village, Rockland County, or New York State. Ask before cutting or even trimming one.
- Wetlands and streams. Clearing in a state-regulated freshwater wetland or its 100-foot adjacent area can need a DEC permit, and several town codes add their own wetland and stream setbacks (Clarkstown's 25-foot drainageway rule, for example). If the tree is near water, ask before cutting.
- Dead and dangerous trees. Almost every code exempts them, but several make you prove it: Clarkstown wants documentation within 7 days, Pomona and Upper Nyack want an arborist's letter within 48 hours, Nyack wants an ISA Certified Arborist report. Photograph the tree before it comes down. See our hazardous tree assessment guide.
- Utility lines. Orange & Rockland clears trees from its energized lines; nobody else should work within 10 feet of a power line. Call O&R first.
- Conservation easements and HOA rules. Many subdivision lots, especially in Montebello, Pomona and Wesley Hills, carry easements or covenants that limit cutting regardless of the town code. Check your deed and the subdivision plat.
Town pages with the full rule
Each of our town pages explains the local rule in plain English, with costs, local tree problems and a free quote form: see all Rockland towns.
Tree permit questions
Does Rockland County require a permit to remove a tree?
No. There is no county-wide tree removal permit; each town and village sets its own rule. What the County does require is a home improvement contractor license for any business paid to remove trees at a home.
Which Rockland villages have the strictest tree laws?
Montebello (any tree 4 inches or more, with yearly limits), Pomona (any tree about 6.4 inches across or more, three a year), Upper Nyack and Nyack (12-inch significant trees) and Suffern (any tree over 12 inches) all require a permit for an ordinary removal.
Where can I remove a tree without a permit?
For an ordinary removal at an existing home: unincorporated Ramapo (Monsey, Hillcrest), Orangetown (outside its two Critical Environmental Areas), Spring Valley, the Villages of Haverstraw and West Haverstraw, owner-occupied homes in Airmont, and the Towns of Haverstraw and Stony Point when no building permit is involved. Clarkstown allows one 8-inch tree per 5,000 sq ft every three years.
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree?
Almost never, but you may have to prove it was dead or dangerous. Keep photos, and in Clarkstown, Pomona, Nyack and Upper Nyack get an arborist's written confirmation.
Who pulls the permit, me or the tree company?
Either, but the owner signs. Most established Rockland tree companies prepare the application as part of the job; ask for it in the quote.
How it works
- Tell us about the job. Your town, what you need, and a photo if you have one. Takes about a minute.
- We match you with a local tree pro. An independent Rockland County tree care company that holds a Rockland County home improvement contractor license and carries liability insurance, and that actually serves your town.
- Get a free on-site quote. The company contacts you directly, looks at the tree and gives you a written price. No obligation, and you deal with them from there.