Street Tree Planting in NYC

Plant a new street tree in front of your building, done to NYC Parks Department standards. We take care of it for you: the NYC Parks permit, the tree and the planting.

Street tree planting

$2,750 per tree

Planted to NYC Parks standards. Included:

• The NYC Parks tree planting permit
• The tree: 2.5"–3" caliper, about 12–14 ft tall on average, depending on the species
• 2 cedar posts and ArborTie
• Removing the old soil
• Fresh soil and mulch

How it works

1. Send us the details with the form below, plus a photo of the tree bed or sidewalk spot.
2. We review the site and apply for the NYC Parks Tree Work Permit for you.
3. NYC Parks reviews the location. A Parks Forester approves the spot and the species. Parks usually offers 3 tree choices.
4. We plant your tree in the next planting season, following the Parks planting standards.
5. NYC Parks inspects the planting and signs off.

Choosing your tree

NYC Parks makes the final choice of species from its list of approved street trees, based on the site: sidewalk width, overhead wires, nearby buildings and the trees already on the block. Parks usually gives 3 choices. Most new street trees are 2.5"–3" caliper (trunk thickness) and about 12–14 ft tall, depending on the species.

It helps to tell us what kinds of trees are already on your block, or if you have a tree in mind. We'll pass it along with the application.

Planting seasons

• Fall: October 1 to December 15
• Spring: March 1 to May 15

NYC Parks doesn't allow street tree planting in the summer. Some streets also have a Department of Transportation construction embargo from November 21 to January 2. Getting your request in early gives the permit time to come through for the season you want.

What we need from you

• The address where the tree will go
• The official name of the property owner, as it appears on the deed or tax bill
• The size of the tree bed, if there is one
• What's in the bed now: a dead tree, a stump that needs to come out, debris, paving, an electric outlet, or a tree guard
• A photo of the tree bed or sidewalk spot
• The trees already on the block, or a tree you'd like

A dead tree, a stump, paving or a new tree bed cut into the sidewalk means extra work, and some of it needs its own permits. For example, cutting a new tree bed needs a Department of Transportation permit. We'll go over it with you after we see your photos.

Tax-exempt? If your organization or agency is exempt from New York State sales tax, send us the proper paperwork before you buy, and we'll remove the tax before the sale. See Tax-Exempt Purchases for what we need.

NYC Parks planting standards at a glance

• Tree bed: the standard size is 5 ft by 10 ft. A smaller bed needs the Forester's approval.
• Spacing: street trees are usually 20–30 ft apart, at least 40 ft from a street corner, 25 ft from a streetlight or utility pole, and 7 ft from a driveway. The bed must be at least 3 ft from a fire hydrant.
• Staking: 2 cedar stakes with ArborTie, removed after the first year.
• Soil and mulch: fresh topsoil that meets Parks specifications, topped with 3 inches of shredded bark mulch.

Source: NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Standards. The Parks Forester can set different requirements for your site.

New buildings

New buildings, and enlargements of more than 20 percent of a building's floor area, must plant one street tree for every 25 feet of frontage to get a Certificate of Occupancy. We can plant the trees your project needs.

Protect your new tree

A tree guard keeps dogs, bikes and car doors away from the trunk and soil. We design, build and install custom steel guards to NYC Parks specs. See Tree Guards.

Request a street tree planting

Fill out the form below. Questions? Call us at 646-389-4299.