Newton Panel Weighs Tree Notice Rules
A Program & Services Committee proposal would extend abutter notice to some exempt tree removals on one- and two-family lots, though members sent it back for revision.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in City Hall
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The Newton Program & Services Committee voted to hold a proposal sponsored by Ward 3 Councilor Julia Malakie that would require hand-delivered notice to abutters before removal of exempt trees between six and 40 inches wide. Members said they needed time to rework the notification form, which was written for construction projects.
Why it matters
Several councilors said the notice requirement could burden homeowners and city staff, while the committee deliberately avoided overly burdening owners of smaller trees. Staff estimates at least 80 percent of exempt-tree permits cite a tree that is sick, dead, dying, or damaging property.
Staff estimates at least 80 percent of exempt-tree permits cite a sick, dead, dying, or damaging tree, and the proposal would cover trees 6 to 40 inches wide. The committee voted to hold the measure, and the revised notice form has not yet been presented.
The players
Julia Malakie
Ward 3 Newton City Councilor who sponsored the proposal to extend abutter notice to exempt tree removals.
Newton City Council
The 24-member legislative body of the City of Newton, Massachusetts, which will take up Hunter's nomination.
The details
Malakie moved to hold the proposal so members could rework the notification form, which currently reflects construction-project requirements. Under the proposal, notice would go by hand to immediate abutters and those across the street, while forestry typically turns permits around within a couple of days.
Timeline
Committee meeting held November 4, 2026, covering appointments, the tree proposal and charter changes.
Joseph Hunter's Jackson Homestead trustee nomination goes to the full City Council in about a week and a half.
Political Context
The proposal would extend abutter notification to trees that Newton's existing ordinance exempts from permit requirements on one- and two-family lots. Opponents on the committee argued the added notice could burden homeowners and city staff, shaping the decision to hold the measure.
Homeowners with one- or two-family lots could face hand-delivered notice requirements before removing certain trees if the proposal advances. The revised form and final committee vote will determine how the rules apply to residents.
The takeaway
Residents planning to remove a mid-sized tree on a one- or two-family lot should watch for the revised notice form before assuming any new requirements apply.
What happens next
The Hunter trustee nomination is expected before the full City Council in about a week and a half.
Further reading
Explore more City Hall coverage for context on how Newton's committees shape local rules.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Heights.
Live Poll
Should homeowners be required to notify neighbors before removing trees on their property?
