Rhode Island General Laws Title 2. Agriculture and Forestry § 2-15-6. Injuries to trees and shrubs prohibited

(a) Except as provided for in chapter 34 of title 39, no person shall, without the consent of the tree warden, the department of transportation, the department of environmental management, or the park commission of any town or city use climbing spurs for the purpose of climbing ornamental or shade trees, and no person or agent of a firm or corporation shall remove, cut down, prune, wilfully injure, or deface any shrub or tree within the limits of any public way or grounds without the written permission of the tree warden, or the department of transportation, or the department of environmental management, or the park commission of any town or city.

(b) Any person, firm, or corporation removing or cutting down a tree located along a state or municipal highway shall replace the tree with a hardy young tree of a similar kind in the same general location of the tree cut down or removed.