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Tree Board

A board of the Town of Chesapeake Beach
Tree Board

The Town Council of the Town of Chesapeake Beach adopted Ord. No. O-23-18 7-20-2023 Chapter 263 "Urban Forest Ordinance". The purpose of this chapter is to protect, preserve and promote the urban forest of Chesapeake Beach, which is part of a larger ecosystem which contributes significantly to air, noise and visual pollution control, moderates climate extremes, promotes sound energy conservation, and has significant aesthetic value affecting property values and the community's quality of life; and to establish a Tree Board to regulate the planting, maintenance and removal of trees in public places, and certain trees located on private property. This ordinance along with other Town ordinances such as the Steep Slope ordinance protects the trees and vegetation in the Town limits. Avoid the fine! Contact Town Hall at (410)257-2230 before removing a tree. 

Appointed Members of the Tree Board: Members of the board shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Town Council. A minimum of two members shall be from the Town Green Committee. One member shall be a Town of Chesapeake Beach employee as designated by the Town Administrator. The term of office of the members appointed by the Mayor shall be three years. All non-Town employee members shall serve without pay. Non-Town employee vacancies caused by resignations or otherwise shall be filled by the Mayor and confirmed by the Town Council.

Members of the Board as appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Town Council, are: 

  • Sue Alexander, Chair
  • Ken Rasmussen
  • Melanie Crowder
  • Kathleen Berault
  • Jay Berry, Public Works Administrator Town of Chesapeake Beach
  • Gordon Mathison

Duties and responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of the Board to study, investigate, counsel and assist the Town's designated employee in developing and/or updating a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public and private areas, as defined in § 263-2A(2) through (5) of this chapter. Such a plan will be presented annually to the Town Council and upon its acceptance and approval shall constitute the official comprehensive Town tree plan.

Trees Protected by the Urban Forest Ordinance: The following trees are considered to be part of the Town's urban forest and are subject to the provisions of Chapter 263:

(1) Public trees which are those trees in the public rights-of-way or on property owned by the Town or any governmental agency, including all trees in the public domain in Chesapeake Beach.

(2) Trees worthy of preservation which are: (a) Trees on private property with trunks that measure at least 50 inches in circumference at 4 1/2 feet above ground level if located less than or equal to 50 feet from a public street or sidewalk. (b) Trees on private property with trunks that measure at least 75 inches in circumference at 4 1/2 feet above ground level, if located more than 50 feet from a public street or sidewalk.

(3) If a tree divides into branches at less than 4 1/2 feet, the trunk shall be measured immediately beneath the dividing point.

(4) Trees, regardless of size or location, that were planted: (a) Pursuant to a reforestation requirement contained in a decision granting a permit by any government or governmental unit; (b) With government funding; or (c) Pursuant to government programs. (5) Removal of a tree shall include not only actual removal of a tree but also effective removal through a damaging or other intentional action or omission resulting in the death of a tree within one year of the action or omission.

Removing a Tree in Town? Contact Town Hall at (410)257-2230. 

Annual Report: The Tree Board shall prepare an annual report summarizing its activities; shall recommend changes in the law or other actions that the Mayor and Town Council may wish to take to protect and promote the urban forest; and shall notify the Mayor and Town Council of significant events related to the urban forest. 

Reports on Public Trees: 
 

To view the Town's tree inventory please click here. 

Reports on Decisions of the Tree Board: 

On March 28, 2024, the Tree Board Chair executed a final decision of the Tree Board in regards to a violation of the Urban Forest Ordinance at 3090 Cox Rd. Chesapeake Beach, MD. To view the decision, please click here.