Programs & Regulations Roadside Tree Law Summary

The Maryland Roadside Tree Law

Roadside Tree Care Regulations

.01 Purpose
The purpose of these regulations is to implement Natural Resources Article, 5410 -- 5-406, Annotated Code of Maryland, to ensure the proper care of roadside trees in the interest of promoting and maintaining healthy trees and safe unobstructed, and aesthetically pleasing public roads and rights-of-way.

.02 Definitions
A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Director" means Director of the Maryland Forest Service.
(2) "Dripline" is a line extending from the outer reaches of a tree crown vertically to the ground.
(3) "Forest Service" means the Maryland Forest Service.
(4) "Licensed Tree Expert" means a person licensed under Natural Resources Article, 5-415 et seq.
(5) "Person" includes the State, a county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State, or their units, or an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or a partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation, or other entity.
(6) "Pesticide" means a:

(a) Chemical or biological preparation used to kill, inhibit, or regulate growth on targeted plants, their spores or seed, including:

(i) Herbicides,
(ii) Insecticides,
(iii) Tree growth regulators, and
(iv) Fungicides,

(b) Substance or mixture of substances intended for:

(i) Preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating pest,
(ii) Use as plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, or
(iii) Use as a spray adjuvant such as a wetting agent or adhesive.

(7) "Public road" means a road the title to which, or the easement for the use of which, is vested in a public body or governmental agency.

(8) "Recommended tree list" means a list of trees approved by the Forest Service and those recommended by the Forest Service that are suitable for planting on specific sites and for specific conditions within the right-of-way of public roads.

(9) "Right-of-way of a public road" means that land the title to which, or an easement for which, is held by the State, county, or a municipality for use as a public road.