Tree permit rules in the Town of Oyster Bay
Application to the Highway Department Tree Bureau is required to remove trees 8"+ in diameter on any property in the unincorporated town. The Gold Coast villages have their own, often stricter, rules.
- Threshold: 8 inches in diameter.
- File with the Town of Oyster Bay Highway Department, Tree Bureau (150 Miller Pl., Syosset).
- Code: Chapter 225, Trees.
- Incorporated villages (e.g. Massapequa Park, Farmingdale, Mill Neck, Brookville) apply their own tree laws.
Official source: Town of Oyster Bay Code, Chapter 225: Trees . Compare all towns in our Long Island permit guide.
Villages with their own tree laws: Massapequa Park, Farmingdale, Bayville, Oyster Bay Cove, Mill Neck, Lattingtown, Brookville, Muttontown, Laurel Hollow, Sea Cliff. If one of these is on your tax bill, its rules apply.
Trees, pests and problems we see in Oyster Bay
Two different forests in one town. On the North Shore (Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay) it's Gold Coast estate canopy: beech, oak and tulip poplar, where beech leaf disease is a growing reason for removal. In the central and South Shore hamlets (Hicksville, Bethpage, Massapequa) it's post-war plantings of maples, pin oaks and white pines, many now 70 years old.
Soil, weather and storm exposure
Massapequa's canal and bay-front streets flood in storms, and saturated sandy soil makes trees prone to uprooting in nor'easters. The North Shore has rolling, wooded slopes with long driveways, where equipment access is the challenge.
Homes, lots and access
Mid-century capes, ranches and split-levels on quarter-acre lots through Hicksville, Plainview, Bethpage and Massapequa, with fences, above-ground and in-ground pools and sheds close to trees. North Shore estates have large lots but long carries and valuable landscaping.
What drives the price in Oyster Bay
South Shore: moderate prices but frequent storm calls and tight backyard access. North Shore estates: larger trees, longer debris carries and crane work, often $2,000+. Everyone should budget for the 8-inch permit.
Long Island baseline: small trees $300–$800, medium $700–$2,000, large $1,500–$3,500+, and stump grinding $150–$500 per stump. See the tree removal cost guide and stump grinding costs.
Services available in Oyster Bay
- Tree Removal: Dead, leaning, storm-damaged or just-in-the-way trees taken down safely, including crane work over houses and pools.
- Stump Grinding: Stumps ground 6–8 inches below grade so you can reseed, plant or pave. Usually $150–$500 a stump.
- Stump & Root Removal: Full extraction of the stump and main roots when you need to replant, build a patio or pour footings in the same spot.
- Emergency & Storm Tree Removal: A tree on the house, car, fence or driveway after a nor'easter or tropical storm, with help documenting it for insurance.
- Tree Trimming & Pruning: Limbs over the roof, deadwood, storm-prep thinning and clearance, done to keep the tree healthy rather than topping it.
- Land & Lot Clearing: Wooded building lots, pool and driveway areas, and overgrown property cleared, with stumps ground or pulled and the permit rules sorted first.
Communities covered
- Massapequa
- Massapequa Park
- Hicksville
- Syosset
- Bethpage
- Plainview
- Old Bethpage
- Woodbury
- Jericho
- Glen Head
- Locust Valley
- Oyster Bay
- Farmingdale
- Seaford (part)
Oyster Bay tree removal FAQ
Do I need a permit to remove a pine tree in my Massapequa backyard?
If it's 8 inches or more in diameter and you're in the unincorporated town, yes: file with the Tree Bureau. If you're in the Village of Massapequa Park, check the village's rules instead.
A tree came down in a storm in my yard. Do I still need a permit?
Emergency situations are handled differently, but document everything: photos before and after, and date and time. Call the town Highway Department if you're unsure. For a tree on wires, call PSEG Long Island first.
Why are so many North Shore beech trees being removed?
Beech leaf disease, spread by a microscopic nematode, has been killing American and European beeches across Nassau. Declining beeches become brittle, so trees near homes and driveways are often removed.
