Tree Removal Permits in Oakland County, by Community
Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by Robert Burgund, ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A
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Here is what applies where, so you know before you book anyone.
Ordinances change, and how they apply often depends on your specific parcel, such as whether it sits in a mapped woodland or a wetland buffer or a right of way. Treat this page as the starting point for the right question, not as legal advice. We confirm the current rules with your municipality as part of every free estimate.
One term to know: DBH
Nearly every ordinance below is written in DBH, which stands for diameter at breast height. It is the thickness of the trunk measured about 4.5 feet off the ground. Not the tree’s height, and not its canopy spread.
So when a city says it regulates trees “8 inches and up,” that means 8 inches of trunk at chest height. That is a smaller tree than most people picture.
Permit rules by community
| Community | The rule | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Novi | Protects nearly any tree 36″ DBH or larger, even outside regulated woodlands. Inside a regulated woodland, the threshold drops to 8″. | Broad protection for mature trees |
| Bloomfield Hills | Two trees without a permit on parcels under 1.5 acres, three above. Every removal plan is reviewed by the city. | Counted, not measured |
| West Bloomfield | Most private property is not regulated, unless the parcel sits in a designated woodland, a delineated wetland, or the 25-foot Environmental Features Setback. | It depends entirely on location |
| Waterford | The Protected Tree List and replacement rules (Code of Ordinances Ch. 8, Art. VII) apply mainly to vacant parcels. Occupied lots and dead trees are exempt, and wetland and lakefront rules still apply. | Mostly about vacant land |
| Troy | Tree and woodland preservation runs under Section 13.07 of the Zoning Ordinance. | Confirm parcel by parcel |
| Rochester Hills | Regulates trees 6″ DBH and up, but occupied single-family lots under one acre are exempt. Right-of-way and landmark trees always need a permit. | Your lot size decides it |
| Birmingham | Private tree removal is at the owner’s discretion, per the city’s own forestry guidance. Right-of-way trees belong to the city, and tree protection plans apply during construction. | The right-of-way is the catch |
| Royal Oak | The strip between sidewalk and street holds city trees. Inside your property line, the decision is generally yours. | Know where the line is |
| Farmington Hills | Permit required from 6″ DBH. Homeowners may remove two protected trees per calendar year without one, but landmark trees (24″+) always need a permit. Dead trees are exempt. | Stricter than it looks |
What usually triggers a permit
The same handful of factors comes up across the county.
- Trunk diameter. Thresholds run from 6 inches to 36 inches DBH depending on the community.
- Whether the parcel is mapped as woodland. This is the one that trips people up most. The identical tree can be unregulated on the next street and protected on yours.
- Wetland and shoreline setbacks. Common across the lakes communities, and they frequently override the general rule.
- Tree count. A few communities allow a set number of removals per parcel or per year before paperwork kicks in.
- The right of way. That strip between the sidewalk and the street is almost always a city tree, no matter who mows around it.
Most people assume a dead tree needs the same paperwork as a live one. Across most of Oakland County the opposite is true: Farmington Hills and Waterford both exempt dead trees outright. The exception is a mapped woodland area, where trees are regulated at any size and in any condition. Remove a protected tree without approval and you are typically looking at a fine plus a replacement requirement, far more than the permit would have cost.
What about emergencies?
If a tree is on your house or blocking the driveway after a storm, safety comes first. No municipality expects you to wait on paperwork before making your property safe.
We photograph the condition before and during the work, which satisfies both the city and your insurance adjuster.
Permit questions we hear most
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my own property in Michigan?
It depends entirely on your municipality, because there is no state-level rule for private property. In Oakland County, Novi, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Rochester Hills and Farmington Hills all have ordinances that may apply. Others regulate only woodland or right-of-way trees.
What does DBH mean?
Diameter at breast height, which is the trunk’s thickness measured roughly 4.5 feet above the ground. Almost every tree ordinance is written in DBH rather than in tree height or canopy size.
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
Typically a fine, plus a requirement to replace the tree. Sometimes that means multiple trees, or a payment into the city’s tree fund. It always costs considerably more than the permit would have.
Can the tree service pull the permit for me?
Generally yes. We handle the inquiry and the paperwork as part of the job across the communities we serve.
Does this apply to trimming, or only removal?
Removal is usually the trigger, but heavy pruning of a protected tree can be regulated too, particularly inside woodland areas.
Not sure what applies to your tree?
We check the current position with your municipality as part of the free estimate, before anything gets scheduled.
Call or Text 248-672-8058Request a Free Estimate
Written and reviewed by Robert Burgund
ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST · MI-4857A
Owner of Tree Pros, LLC in Bloomfield Township. Verify the certification by name in ISA’s public directory.