Montgomery County Forest Conservation Law

The Forest Conservation Law, enacted in 1992 with several more recent amendments, is administered by the Planning Department of M-NCPPC.  For technical information about the Forest Conservation Law and how to comply with the regulations, please see the Planning Department’s website.

State Laws

The following are two of several state laws pertaining to trees and forests. The complete list of the laws and more information can be found on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service webpage here.

Maryland Forest Conservation Act

The Forest Conservation Act is a state law, enacted in 1991, which requires that any person making application for a subdivision, grading permit or sediment control plan on a tract of 40,000 square feet or more must submit a Forest Stand Delineation (FSD) and a Forest Conservation Plan (FCP).

Maryland Roadside Tree Law

The Roadside Tree Law, enacted in 1914, requires a permit for planting, removing, pruning, or any activity that may harm a tree in the right-of-way.  Permit applications may be downloaded here, then contact our local MD DNR Forest Service office at (301) 854-6060 for guidance on submitting your application.
If you have a roadside tree adjacent to your property that needs maintenance, please contact county Department of Transportation (DOT) at 240-777-6000.  If you would like to have a roadside tree planted adjacent to your property, you may make a request to the DOT at 240-777-6000.

Trees and the Law — Neighbor-related Disputes

Many frequently asked questions regarding trees on neighboring properties are answered on the Nolo website here.
The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs can help you if your neighbor has a tree that is hazardous to your property.  Please see
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhctmpl.asp?url=/content/DHCA/housing/code_E/code_e.asp or contact 240-777-3785 to file a complaint.