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Special Tree Permit Viewer

Published by District Department of Transportation | District of Columbia | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2025-08-28T00:00:00.000Z
Constituents who would like to remove a tree between 44” & 99.9” in circumference located on private property or in the public parking area, will need a Special Tree Permit available through the Transportation Online Permitting System (TOPS). If a special tree is considered non-hazardous by a city arborist, then a fee of $55 dollars per inch of circumference is required for the application to be issued.If a Special Tree is within the limits of disturbance of the constituent's construction project, then a Tree Preservation Plan (TPP) may be needed. To properly protect these trees throughout construction the first step is to consult a certified arborist. The certified arborist should be brought in from the very beginning to help determine what is practical within the critical root zone (CRZ) of the tree(s) being preserved.Knowing when, where, and how to get the right permit for tree work can be a complicated process. Fortunately, DC government is here to make it easy! Visit trees.dc.gov/pages/permitting for complete steps.

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