MORATORIUM ON TREE REMOVAL EXTENDED TO JANUARY 2026
NOTICE TO HENLOPEN ACRES PROPERTY OWNERS
AND BUSINESS LICENSE HOLDERS
At their July 11, 2025 meeting, the Town of Henlopen Acres Board of Commissioners voted to once again extend the moratorium on severely cutting back, topping, damaging, or removing canopy trees, as defined below, on private property located in the first 10-feet of the front setback closest to the Town right-of-way, or in any part of the side and rear setbacks.
CANOPY TREE – A tree that normally grows to a mature height of 40 or more feet whose branches and foliage create substantial shade underneath. Includes large deciduous trees such as oaks, maples, beech, hickory, sycamore, and tulip poplar trees, but also includes certain tall evergreens such as loblolly pines as outlined on the Town of Henlopen Acres Approved Tree List.
The Town Manager, for good cause shown, maintains the authority to allow a canopy tree in the protected setback areas to be severely cut back, topped, or removed.
The moratorium was initially set to expire on July 10, 2025. An initial extension to September 30, 2025 was approved by the Board of Commissioners at their June 13, 2025 meeting. With the second approved extension, it will now continue until and including January 31, 2026 unless sooner lifted by the Board of Commissioners.
The decision to extend the moratorium was made to provide the Board of Commissioners with additional time to carefully consider and revise possible amendments to Chapter 114, Trees, of the municipal code based on the valuable feedback received from the community.
The extension will also ensure that Town staff have adequate time to plan for and implement any new policies or regulations that may result from this process.
There will be discussion and possible action on amendments to Chapter 114, Trees, at future meetings of the Board of Commissioners to be scheduled.
We appreciate your continued engagement and patience as we work toward thoughtful, effective solutions and will keep you updated as this process moves forward.
If you have any questions, please contact Town Hall at townhall@henlopenacres.com.
