D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 605
605.1 The benefits of a healthy urban forests, are well documented. Street trees, trees in parks and natural areas, and trees on private lands add beauty, improve mental health, provide shade, reduce water pollution, absorb noise, produce oxygen, absorb GHGs, and provide habitat for birds and small animals. They also add economic value to neighborhoods and contribute to community identity and pride. Trees also play an increasingly important role in helping Washington, DC adapt to a changing climate that will bring hotter temperatures and more heavy rain events.
605.2 Trees currently cover about 38 percent of Washington, DC’s land area (see Figure 6.2). However, there are significant geographic disparities in tree cover, ranging from 60 percent of the land area in Ward 3 to 23 percent in Ward 1. Public awareness of the importance of trees has sparked tree planting and re-greening activities across Washington, DC.
605.3 Tree cover in Washington, DC as of 2016 is shown in Map 6.2.
605.4 Figure 6.2 District Tree Canopy Coverage
(Source: Sustainable DC)
Plant and maintain trees in the public lands in all parts of Washington, DC, particularly in areas with low canopy cover and areas in greater need of trees, such as those with high urban heat island effects, at high risk for flooding, or with high particulate matter levels. 605.5
Use planning, zoning, and building regulations to promote tree retention and planting, as well as the removal and replacement of dying trees when new development occurs. Tree planting and landscaping required as a condition of permit approval should include provisions for ongoing maintenance.
605.7
Encourage the use of sustainable landscaping practices to beautify the District, enhance streets and public spaces, reduce stormwater runoff, and create a stronger sense of character and identity. District government, private developers, and community institutions should coordinate to significantly increase the use of these practices, including planting and maintaining mostly native trees and other plants on District-owned land outside the right-of-ways in schools, parks, and housing authority lands.
605.8
Promote partnerships between Washington, DC, community groups, and nonprofit advocacy groups to undertake tree surveys and planting campaigns, volunteer training and education, and resident stewardship of Washington, DC’s urban forest. Leverage the Urban Forestry Advisory Council’s (UFAC) diverse membership of District and federal government agencies, nonprofit partners, public utilities, and community members to promote existing policies and develop new initiatives to expand Washington, DC’s urban tree canopy. Support public-private partnerships that fund tree planting efforts on both public and private land, which can vary in scale from small parcel-level projects to large open spaces.
605.9
Encourage tree planting on private lands through incentive programs and outreach and education. Methods should include using GI, native plantings, pollinator gardens, and other habitat as a community benefit in planned unit developments and forming voluntary partnerships with major institutions such as universities, embassies, and hospitals.
605.10
Determine the extent of Washington, DC’s tree canopy at a sufficient level of detail to establish tree canopy goals for neighborhoods across the District. Continue working toward a District-wide goal of 40 percent tree canopy cover by 2032. Encourage tree plantings in neighborhoods with lower canopy levels. Components of this program should include the removal of dead and dying trees and their replacement with suitable species, and the pruning and maintenance of trees to eliminate hazards and increase their rate of survival.
605.11
Continue working toward a goal of planting 10,500 trees on public and private open space each year.
605.12 Action E-2.1.B: Street Tree Standards Continue to formalize the planting, pruning, removal, and construction guidelines in use by the District's Urban Forestry Division. These standards provide further direction for tree selection based on such factors as traffic volumes, street width, shade and sunlight conditions, soil conditions, disease and drought resistance, and the space available for tree wells. They also include provisions to increase the size of tree boxes to improve tree health and longevity, and standards for soils and planting, as well improve upon existing tree boxes through impervious surface removal, increasing soil volumes, undergrounding power lines, and installing bio-retention tree boxes.
605.13 Action E-2.1.C: Tree Inventories Continue partnership agreements with the federal government, Casey Trees, and other groups to maintain the live, publicly available database and management system for Washington, DC's trees using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. Efforts should be made to inventory trees on all District lands outside the right-of-ways, as well as along its streets.
605.14 Action E-2.1.D: Operating Procedures for Utility and Roadwork Develop standard operating procedures to minimize tree damage by public utility and road crews. All activities that involve invasive work around street trees should be reviewed by Urban Forestry Administration personnel. Promote the expansion of the urban tree canopy, while planting the right tree in the right place in consideration with overhead utility lines.
605.15 Action E-2.1.E: Urban Forest Management Consistent with Washington, DC's 2002 and 2016 Tree Bills, continue to protect, maintain, and restore trees and native woodlands across Washington, DC. Use the Mayor's UFAC and new and existing District agency partnerships to coordinate urban forest management activities on all public lands managed by the District (e.g., street trees, parks, public school grounds). These partnerships and initiatives should also promote coordination with federal agencies and other large landowners and include comprehensive strategies to manage insects and diseases.
605.15a Text Box: The DC Tree Bill The Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002, better known as the Tree Bill, established a tree preservation program, strengthened the community notice requirements for tree removal on public land, and revised the penalties for injuring trees on public space and private property. The Tree Bill was approved in December 2002 and requires an annual program for tree planting and care, preparation of a tree master plan, and the development of maintenance standards for trees on public space.
605.15b The Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act of 2016 was enacted to build upon the previous Tree Bill and increase Washington, DC's tree canopy. By reducing the circumference of special trees from 55 inches to 44 inches and creating a designation of heritage trees—which are over 100 inches in circumference and cannot be cut down unless deemed hazardous by a Washington, DC arborist—the older tree canopy is better protected. The bill also assesses permits for removal of special trees and fines for damage to, and illicit removal of, special and heritage trees.
605.16 Map 6.2 Existing Tree Cover in Washington, DC and Surrounding Region
OPD0030242 (Source: OP, 2018)
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act
of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).