Tree Protection in Austin, TX (2026)
5 verified tree protection rules for Austin, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal Permits
Austin City Code Title 25, Chapter 25-8, Subchapter B (Tree and Natural Area Protection) requires a permit to remove any protected tree. Trees with a trunk diameter of 19 inches or more (measured at 4.5 feet above ground) are classified as protected. A tree removal permit from the City Arborist must be obtained before removal. Permit applications require a tree survey, justification for removal, and a mitigation plan. Emergency removals for immediate safety hazards may proceed without prior permit but must be reported within 5 business days.
Austin Tree Removal Permits & Protected Trees
Heavy RestrictionsHeritage & Protected Trees
Austin's 2010 Heritage Tree Ordinance (City Code Ch. 6-3) is one of the strictest in the United States. Trees of designated species 19+ inches in diameter are Heritage Trees and cannot be removed except for imminent hazard or where a tree prevents reasonable use of the property. Protected trees (8–18 inch DBH) require a removal permit.
Austin Heritage Tree Ordinance (City Code Ch. 6-3)
Heavy RestrictionsTree Replacement Requirements
Austin's tree mitigation requirements under Title 25, Chapter 25-8 require replacement planting or payment into the Tree Fund when protected or heritage trees are removed. Standard protected tree mitigation is calculated based on the diameter of the removed tree using a caliper-inch replacement formula. Heritage trees require a higher mitigation ratio. Developers may plant replacement trees on-site, off-site at an approved location, or pay into the City's Tree Mitigation Fund. The fund is used for tree planting in underserved areas.
Austin Tree Replacement & Mitigation Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsProtected Tree Species
Austin City Code Chapter 25-8 protects every tree 19 inches DBH or larger, with heritage status for 24-inch protected species like live oak, pecan, bald cypress, and Texas ash; removal requires a permit, mitigation, and often arborist review, with fines up to $1,000 per inch.
Austin Heritage Tree Ordinance: Strongest Tree Rules in Texas
Heavy RestrictionsParkway Planting
Austin City Arborist and Urban Forestry program control planting in the parkway strip between sidewalk and street under City Code Chapter 25-7 and Transportation Department right-of-way rules. Approved species lists, clearance standards, and free street tree programs guide residents.
Austin Parkway Tree Planting: City Arborist Approval
Some RestrictionsLooking for Travis County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Austin city rules.
Tree Protection in Travis County →