Public Tree Ordinance
At a glance
- What: Paper 19-070, a rewrite of Chapter 86, Article III (Public Tree Preservation, Protection, and Replacement Ordinance), offered by Councilor Callahan.
- Where it stands: Ordained September 15, 2026, 7-0, after three readings were waived 5-2.
What it does
- Replaces Section 86-91 onward. Tree Warden controls trimming, pruning and removal of public trees by written permit after a public hearing (G.L. c. 87). A homeowner may take down a public tree that has fallen on a house after notifying the Tree Warden.
- Creates an Urban Forest Management Plan (five years) that the Tree Warden and departments must substantially follow, and a Tree Fund for payments in lieu of replanting.
- Public inventory and a public electronic record of removal requests; neighbors within a block and the Tree Committee must be told before a sidewalk-strip tree is removed.
- Landmark Trees (50 years old, 24 inches in diameter or more, rare, or historic) need a permit to remove.
- Penalties: fines equal to the cost of replacing the lost canopy, deposited in the Tree Fund.
Votes (September 15, 2026)
- Councilor Callahan moved to waive three readings, seconded by Councilor Tseng. Approved 5-2; Councilor Scarpelli and President Bears opposed.
- Robert Carney addressed the Council.
- Councilor Callahan moved to approve and ordain, seconded by Councilor Tseng. Approved 7-0.
- The Committee of the Whole report on 19-070 (July 14, 2026) was accepted August 4, 2026.
Sources
- City Council regular meeting minutes, September 15, 2026: https://medfordma.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=981,plainText=false)
- City Council regular meeting minutes, August 4, 2026: https://medfordma.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=948,plainText=false)
Log
2026-09-15 - City Council
Three readings waived 5-2; ordained 7-0.
2026-08-04 - City Council
Committee of the Whole report of July 14, 2026 on 19-070 accepted with the records.