Tree Protection in Asheville, NC (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for Asheville, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Asheville defines a heritage tree by trunk diameter: 30 inches for a large-maturing species, 24 inches for medium, 15 inches for small, in fair or better condition on private property. Removing one under a tree removal permit doubles the replanting duty: Section 7-19-6(b)(1)f requires a replanting plan showing canopy equal to 200 percent of what came down.
Asheville Heritage Tree Protection Rules
Some RestrictionsAsheville City Code Section 7-2-5 (definitions); Section 7-19-6(b)(1)f
Heritage tree means any large maturing tree 30-inches in diameter, medium maturing tree 24- inches in diameter, or small maturing tree 15-inches in diameter in fair or better condition, located on private property within the city limits of Asheville. Trees presenting medium to high risk which cannot be mitigated shall not be considered heritage trees. ... f. When removing a heritage tree, a r...
Protected Tree Species
Asheville protects a narrow category of "regulated trees": those on private property listed as champion or co-champion of their species on the National Big Tree List or the Champion Big Trees of North Carolina list. City Code Sec. 20-42 lets the public works director deny a permit to remove one, based on factors like development need and tree health.
Asheville Protection for Champion Species Trees
Significant RestrictionsAsheville City Code §§ 20-4, 20-42
Regulated tree: Trees which are located on private property and are listed as the champion or co-champion of its species, either on the "National Big Tree List" as compiled by the American Forestry Association or the "Champion Big Trees of North Carolina" as compiled by the North Carolina Division of Forestry Resources. ... The public works director may prohibit the removal of a regulated tree ...
Parkway Planting
Anyone who wants to plant a tree or shrub in Asheville's street right-of-way or other city property needs a written permit from the public works director first, under City Code Sec. 20-21. Utilities get a narrower exception for routine maintenance under city-approved specifications, but even they need a permit to remove a tree from city property.
Asheville Permit Rule for Street Tree Planting
Significant RestrictionsAsheville City Code § 20-21
(a) No person shall remove, destroy, cut, prune or otherwise treat any tree or shrubbery having its trunk upon any city property or right-of-way or contract with another person to perform such acts without first obtaining a written permit from the public works director except as herein set forth. (b) No person shall plant or contract with another to plant any tree or shrubbery on any city prope...
Looking for Buncombe County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Asheville city rules.
Tree Protection in Buncombe County →