Section 5. Tree wardens and their deputies, but no other person, may, without a hearing, trim, cut down or remove trees, less than one and one half inches in diameter one foot from the ground, and bushes, standing in public ways; and, if ordered by the mayor, selectmen, road commissioners or highway surveyor, shall trim or cut down trees and bushes, if the same shall be deemed to obstruct, endanger, hinder or incommode persons traveling thereon or to obstruct buildings being moved pursuant to the provisions of section eighteen of chapter eighty-five. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prevent the trimming, cutting or removal of any tree which endangers persons traveling on a highway, or the removal of any tree, if so ordered by the proper officers for the purpose of widening the highway and nothing herein contained shall interfere with the suppression of pests declared to be public nuisances by section eleven of chapter one hundred and thirty-two, including the Dutch elm disease.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Section 1 - Public Shade Trees; Definition
Section 2 - Powers of Tree Wardens
Section 3 - Cutting of Public Shade Trees; Public Hearing; Damages to Fee Owner
Section 4 - Cutting Down or Removing Public Shade Trees; Approval of Selectmen or Mayor
Section 5 - Cutting Down, Trimming or Removing Bushes and Small Trees
Section 6 - Penalty for Violation of Sec. 3, 4 or 5
Section 7 - Planting of Shade Trees
Section 8 - Trees on State Highways
Section 9 - Signs or Marks on Shade Trees
Section 10 - Injury to Trees on State Highways
Section 11 - Injury to Trees of Another Person
Section 12 - Injury to Shrubs, Trees or Fixtures