DC's Urban Forestry Division (UFD)'s arborists are authorized to protect the District's trees by issuing citations that carry financial or other penalties for violations of regulations. 

The following are the basic rules: 

• A permit is required to prune or remove any street tree in the public right of way between a sidewalk and a curb. 
• A permit is required to remove a tree between 44” & 99.9” in circumference. 
• Any tree greater than 100” in circumference is a Heritage Tree and cannot be removed. 
• Homeowners are responsible for managing trees up to the curb.