Tree Protection in Norfolk, VA

If you live in Norfolk or are thinking about moving there, tree protection are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Norfolk has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of tree protection, and some of them might surprise you.

Parkway Planting

Norfolk treats the parkway strip between curb and sidewalk as city property, so residents cannot plant or freely prune the trees growing there. Section 45-13(a) lets a resident apply for a permit to prune city parkway trees only after completing an ISA-certified arborist workshop, using nonpowered hand tools from the ground. Section 45-16(c) carves out one exception: no permit is needed to water any right-of-way tree or trim crape myrtle root suckers under an inch thick.

Key details: Parkway control: Bureau of parks and forestry, not residents (Sec. 45-3). Pruning permit: Requires ISA arborist workshop certificate (Sec. 45-13(a)). Tools: Nonpowered hand tools, ground level only. No-permit exception: Watering, crape myrtle suckers under 1 in (Sec. 45-16(c)). Planting: City nursery installs replacement trees (Sec. 45-6).

Section 45-1 makes an unpermitted planting, pruning, or removal of a city tree, or any other violation of the tree ordinance, a Class 1 misdemeanor, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense. A judge can also order the violator to restore or remediate the damage on top of the criminal penalty, and every day the restoration is not completed after that order counts as its own additional violation under Section 45-1.

This is one of the stricter rules in Norfolk's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Virginia designates no statewide heritage trees, and Norfolk keeps no formal private heritage-tree registry. Notable trees are protected mainly as city trees under Chapter 45 and through waterfront buffer rules.

Key details: State heritage list: None. Private registry: None in Norfolk. Public trees: Chapter 45 protection. Waterfront trees: RPA buffer limits.

Harming a protected city tree without the bureau's consent violates Chapter 45 and draws restitution and penalties. Unpermitted clearing of mature trees inside a waterfront Resource Protection buffer brings separate Chesapeake Bay enforcement.

The Bottom Line

Norfolk's tree protection rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Norfolk is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Norfolk's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.