Tree Protection in Franklin, TN (2026)
4 verified tree protection rules for Franklin, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal Permits
Under Franklin Zoning Ordinance § 17.2.9 (Tree Removal Permits), a tree removal permit must be obtained from Building & Neighborhood Services before removing trees on commercial, industrial, or multi-family lots of any size, or on single-family lots larger than one (1) acre. Applications are reviewed by the Department of Planning & Sustainability and/or the City Arborist, who make a recommendation to BNS. BNS may not issue building or grading permits until a tree-removal decision (approval or exemption) is in writing. Removal of trees in open space lots, conservation easements, required landscape material, retention-condition areas, or specimen trees cannot be approved.
Franklin Tree Removal Permits — Zoning § 17.2.9 (BNS Issued)
Heavy RestrictionsHeritage & Protected Trees
The Franklin Zoning Ordinance § 17.2 protects 'specimen trees' as the City's functional equivalent of a heritage-tree designation. Specimen trees cannot be approved for removal under § 17.2.9 (BNS may NOT issue a tree removal permit when the tree proposed for removal is a specimen tree). Specimen trees are also protected by tree preservation plans required on development plan, site plan, and preliminary plat applications, with retention-condition language frequently imposed during entitlement. Tennessee state law does not designate or protect heritage trees — that authority is municipal.
Franklin Heritage / Specimen Trees — Protected via Zoning § 17.2
Heavy RestrictionsTree Replacement Requirements
When trees are removed under a Franklin tree removal permit or as part of an approved development plan, the Zoning Ordinance § 17.2 imposes tree replacement standards that require new plantings on-site or, when on-site replacement is infeasible, a payment-in-lieu to the Tree Bank Fund administered by the Franklin Tree Commission. Replacement requirements scale to the size and number of trees removed and the tree-preservation plan submitted with development applications. The Tree Bank funds Arbor Day plantings, public-tree replacement, and community forestry projects.
Franklin Tree Replacement — § 17.2 Standards + Tree Bank Fund
Heavy RestrictionsTree Ordinances
Franklin's tree ordinance framework consists of three pieces: (1) Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17 (Natural Resources) — substantive tree protection including § 17.2 (Tree Protection), § 17.2.9 (Tree Removal Permits), tree preservation plans, specimen-tree protection, and replacement standards; (2) the Franklin Tree Commission — established by ordinance, maintains the Recommended Tree List, plans Arbor Day, administers the Tree Bank Fund, and reports for Tree City USA; and (3) the Urban Forestry section of the Parks Department — operations and maintenance of public/right-of-way trees. Topping is prohibited city-wide under Zoning § 5.2.4(6)(f). Franklin has held Tree City USA designation for approximately 20 years.
Franklin Tree Ordinance Framework — Zoning Ch. 17 + Tree Commission
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Williamson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Franklin city rules.
Tree Protection in Williamson County →