{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-804","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 804","heading":"Section FC 804: Decorative Vegetation","body":"804.1 Natural trees and cut natural trees.\n\nNatural trees and cut natural trees shall be stored, sold, displayed and maintained in accordance with FC 804.1.1 through 804.1.6.\n\n804.1.1 Indoor display of cut natural trees.\n\nCut natural trees may be displayed in a building, except in Group A, B, E, I, M, R-1 and R-2 occupancies and any building or structure used for a public gathering. Notwithstanding the foregoing occupancy restrictions, cut natural trees may be displayed in houses of worship and dwelling units in Group R-2 apartment house occupancies.\n\n804.1.2 Indoor storage of cut natural trees.\n\nIt shall be unlawful to store cut natural trees in any building, except in connection with a display allowed under FC 804.1.1.\n\n804.1.3 Indoor storage and display of natural trees.\n\nNatural trees, except conifers, may be stored and displayed in a building, provided they are maintained in a healthy condition and are not allowed to become dry. It shall be unlawful to store or display natural trees that are conifers in any building.\n\n804.1.4 Support devices.\n\nCut natural trees for display in any building shall have the trunk bottoms cut off at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) above the original cut and shall be placed in a support device. The support device shall be of a type that is stable, holds the tree in an upright position and meets all of the following criteria:\n\n1. The device shall hold the tree securely and be of adequate size to avoid tipping over of the tree.\n\n2. The device shall be capable of containing a minimum 2-day supply of water.\n\n3. The water level, when full, shall cover the tree stem at least 2 inches (51 mm). The water level shall be maintained above the fresh cut and checked at least once daily.\n\n804.1.5 Dryness.\n\nNatural trees and cut natural trees shall be removed from the building whenever the needles or leaves fall off readily when a tree branch is shaken or if the needles are brittle and break when bent between the thumb and index finger. Trees shall be checked daily for dryness.\n\n804.1.6 Retail sale of cut natural trees.\n\nMerchants of cut natural trees, including Christmas trees, shall, at the time of retail sale of each such tree, attach to the tree a printed tag containing appropriate instructions for its safe and lawful display and disposal.\n\n804.2 Natural vegetation.\n\nNatural vegetation shall be maintained in a healthy condition to prevent the vegetation from becoming dry and ignitable. Natural vegetation that has become dry and readily ignitable shall be promptly removed from the premises. Natural vegetation shall be regularly pruned to prevent the vegetation from becoming overgrown and expanding beyond the space designated for it.\n\n804.3 Open flames.\n\nCandles and other open flames shall not be used or maintained on or near decorative vegetation. Natural cut trees shall be kept a distance at least equal to the height of the tree from heat sources, including fireplaces, portable heaters and vents, and open-flame or heat-producing devices.\n\n804.3.1 Electrical fixtures and wiring.\n\nElectrical wiring and lighting used on natural cut trees and decorative vegetation shall be listed. It shall be unlawful to use electrical wiring and lighting on metal artificial trees.\n\n804.4 Artificial vegetation.\n\nArtificial decorative vegetation, including artificial trees, shall be made of flame-resistant material in the buildings and occupancies set forth in FC 805.1. Alternatively, artificial decorative vegetation shall have a maximum heat release rate of 100 kW when tested in accordance with NFPA 289, using a 20 kW ignition source.\n\n804.5 Natural decorative greens.\n\nNatural decorative greens shall be stored and displayed in a building in accordance with FC 804.5.1 through 804.5.4.\n\n804.5.1 Storage.\n\nIt shall be unlawful to store natural decorative greens in any building, except merchandise for sale or displayed for sale which does not contain conifers.\n\n804.5.2 Display.\n\nNatural decorative greens may be displayed in buildings on a temporary basis. The display of natural decorative greens in Group A, E, I, and M occupancies, in common areas of Group R-1, R-2 and B occupancies, and any building or structure used for a public gathering, except display of works of art in museums and houses of worship, shall comply with the restrictions set forth in FC 804.5.3.\n\n804.5.3 Restrictions on display.\n\nIt shall be unlawful to display in any building natural decorative greens that:\n\n1. Contain pitch, such as hemlock, balsam, pine or Spanish moss.\n\n2. Are displayed at a location less than 3 feet (914 mm) from upholstered furniture, rugs, or other combustible material or contain combustible decorations.\n\n3. Are on a combustible framework or displayed in conjunction with combustible material unless such material is flame resistant.\n\n804.5.4 Dryness.\n\nAny natural decorative green shall be removed from a building at the first sign of deterioration or dryness. Natural decorative greens shall be checked at least daily for dryness.","path":["New York City Administrative Code","Title 29","Chapter 2: New York City Fire Code"],"source_url":"https://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/NewYorkCity/Admin/XML.zip","current_through":"Local Law 2026/135 (enacted August 31, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T02:48:57Z","sha256":"a563460729150b90e670aad09148415144bcdb2a53a02a880bd40fc2d0511ef3","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":true,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-803","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-805"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}