Tree Bylaw

You can read the full Tree Bylaw here.  The following is a synopsis.

Town trees can only be removed with approval of the Tree Warden.

(§120-7) Public shade trees and Town trees:  A public shade tree or Town tree may not be cut, pruned, removed or damaged by any person or the Town until and unless the Tree Warden issues a written permit pursuant to this section.

Other restrictions only apply to major construction and only in the setback (15' perimeter, 30' in front).

(§120-2) The provisions of this bylaw, when pertaining to private property, apply only when there is major construction or demolition as defined below and only within setback areas.

There are no prohibitions on removing trees on private property, ever.  

Some trees* are "protected" only in that their removal must be copensated for be replanting or payment into the Tree Fund.

* Trees which are in the setback area during a major construction project and are over 6" in diameter.

(§120-3) PROTECTED TREE: Any tree on private land, with a DBH of six inches or greater.

Developer must submit a site plan with proposed tree removals.

(§120-8 B) Procedures: When construction or demolition is planned, the owner shall submit a site plan … [with] any trees six inches DBH or greater that are proposed to be removed

If removing protected trees, owner must either:

(§120-8 C) Mitigation: A protected tree shall not be removed unless at least one of the following provisions is satisfied:

Replanting of trees: … one inch of caliper of new tree(s) for each replacement inch of DBH of tree(s) removed

… $200 per replacement inch