“Timber trespass” or “tree-cutting” statutes exist because a mature tree can be worth thousands of dollars and takes decades to replace. Many states multiply the damages — double or triple — when the cutting was willful or reckless. Below is a 50-state comparison of the maximum penalty for wrongfully cutting someone’s trees. Click any state for the full statute and details.
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Search Your Property FreeRanked by maximum penalty (treble first). The exact multiplier often depends on whether the cutting was willful, reckless, or innocent — see each state’s page.
| State | Maximum Damages | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Up to 3× (treble) | Up to triple damages |
| Alaska | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Arkansas | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| California | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Colorado | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Connecticut | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Delaware | Up to 3× (treble) | Treble damages |
| Florida | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Georgia | Up to 3× (treble) | Up to triple damages |
| Idaho | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Illinois | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Indiana | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Iowa | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Kansas | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Kentucky | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Maine | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Maryland | Up to 3× (treble) | Treble damages |
| Massachusetts | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Michigan | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Minnesota | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Montana | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Nebraska | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| New Hampshire | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| New Jersey | Up to 3× (treble) | Treble damages |
| New York | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| North Dakota | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Ohio | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Oklahoma | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Oregon | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Pennsylvania | Up to 3× (treble) | Treble damages |
| Rhode Island | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| South Carolina | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| South Dakota | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Tennessee | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Texas | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Utah | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Vermont | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Virginia | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Washington | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| West Virginia | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Wisconsin | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Wyoming | Up to 3× (treble) | Triple damages |
| Arizona | Up to 2× (double) | Double damages |
| Louisiana | Up to 2× (double) | Double damages |
| Mississippi | Up to 2× (double) | Double damages |
| Missouri | Up to 2× (double) | Double damages |
| Nevada | Up to 2× (double) | Double damages |
| North Carolina | Up to 2× (double) | Double damages |
| District of Columbia | Varies | Damages as determined by court |
| Hawaii | Varies | Damages as determined by court |
| New Mexico | Varies | Damages as determined by court |
Penalties summarized from state timber-trespass statutes as of 2026 for general reference; the multiplier and availability of attorney fees depend on intent and circumstances. This is not legal advice — consult a licensed attorney in your state. Sources are linked on each state’s page.