The Parks & Forestry Division is currently planting 2024 and 2025 tree requests. Please note it often takes up to a full year to fulfill a community tree planting request, given the planning and preparation needed for each tree planting. 

As of 4/24/25

Street Beautification Program - Tree Planting Location Guidelines

Needham is a designated "Tree City USA." The Town's modern day tree planting records go back to 1938. The tree planting program in Needham was established to help replace trees that have been removed and to expand the planting of trees throughout Needham. The program is based on placing the right tree in the right place. Trees are placed within the grass plot between the sidewalk and roadway and also on private property behind the sidewalks. Please note that this program is designed with the expectation of one tree per property owner request per year. The tree placement takes into consideration the tree’s size and branching at maturity. 

Tree Placement Guidelines

The following guidelines are an outline of the factors that are considered in tree placement.

Tree placement will consider the following:

• 6 to 9 feet from sidewalks for setback plantings
• 30 to 35 feet from existing trees
• At least 10 feet from driveways, wheelchair ramps, and fire hydrants
• No closer than 5 feet behind or 10 feet in front of signs
• At least 5 feet from underground utility lines
• At least 10 feet from street lights, farther for larger trees
• At least 15 feet from storm drains
• At least 30 feet from intersections
• Adequate distance from existing vegetation on abutting property to avoid affecting growth habits
• Trees cannot be planted near building foundations or walls
• All tree lawn (utility strip) and tree pit plantings should include at least a four-foot wide planting area.
• The natural spread of tree roots will be considered when selecting a site

Tree species selection for plantings is based on inventory purchased every spring by the Parks and Forestry Division. During your appointment with the Town Arborist, they will discuss the current tree species' varieties available for planting that season. 

The time required for trees to regain a pre-transplanting growth rate is approximately one year for each one-inch caliper. Caliper refers to the diameter of the tree trunk at approximately 5 feet from the ground. For example, a two-inch caliper tree would take two years to grow at the rate it was growing prior to transplanting. 

Planting Request Process

The following steps will take place after a tree planting request is made:

1. DPW Administration staff will send a confirmation email acknowledging your request.
2. Parks and Forestry staff will pull the tye-cards (water and sewer connections) for your property.
3. Starting in mid-April, DPW Administration staff will begin making calls and schedule appointments with residents that have submitted requests in the order they have been received.
4. During the appointment with the Town Arborist, there will be a discussion of potential planting locations and species' varieties.
5. If a tree location is approved by the Town Arborist and the property owner, plantings will take place in the following months by Parks and Forestry staff.
6. Parks and Forestry staff will water the planted trees during the growing season as part of their scheduled watering program for the first year. If residents would like to do additional watering for their planted trees, they may do so. 
7. Parks and Forestry staff will water planted trees in front yard setbacks and sidewalk strips for the first growing season. Trees planted in the sidewalk strip will continue to be maintained by staff and setbacks will transfer ownership to the property owner. 

Please Note: It often takes up to a full year to fulfill a community tree planting request, given the planning and preparation needed for each tree planting. Once your application is submitted, the Town will communicate with you. Follow-up phone calls are not necessary. Thank you for your understanding!

To submit a tree planting request to the Forestry Department please use our preferred Tree Planting Request - Digital Form or you can Download the Tree Planting Request Form (PDF), print and mail the form directly to the Parks & Forestry Department.

Ref: Massachusetts DCR Urban and Community Forestry Program