Tree Protection in Hendersonville, TN (2026)
4 verified tree protection rules for Hendersonville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal Permits
The City of Hendersonville Planning Department issues a Tree Removal Permit — the application and a Tree Removal Permit Application Checklist are published on the City's Application & Submittal Information page. Tree-removal review is triggered as a required component of the Land Disturbance Permit under Title 18 (Stormwater Ordinance revised September 10, 2024). The Site Plan and Design Review Checklist explicitly requires a Tree Survey, Tree Replacement Plan, and Tree Protection Fencing on the grading sheet. Applications run through the Hendersonville Citizen Self Service Portal at css.hvilletn.org.
Hendersonville TN Tree Removal Permits — Planning Department / Land Disturbance Linkage
Heavy RestrictionsHeritage & Protected Trees
Tennessee has no statewide heritage-tree statute, and the City of Hendersonville does not separately codify a 'heritage tree' designation. However, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) Landmark, Historic & Heritage Tree Registry includes the Walton Oak in Sumner County — a 250-year-old oak associated with Hendersonville's early settlement. The TUFC registry is advisory recognition rather than a regulatory protection, but listed trees inform local Tree City USA priorities and are commonly protected through site-plan tree preservation requirements. TCA § 43-28-312 imposes 2x/3x damages for unauthorized cutting.
Hendersonville TN Heritage Trees — Tennessee Urban Forestry Council Registry + Walton Oak
Some RestrictionsTree Replacement Requirements
On regulated development sites in Hendersonville, the Site Plan and Design Review Checklist requires a Tree Replacement Plan alongside the Tree Survey, and the City's landscape standards require that at least 75 percent of trees planted to satisfy required landscape areas be native species. Replacement trees must meet minimum size standards (deciduous shade trees ≥ 2.5-inch caliper; evergreen trees ≥ 6 feet in height). Required street trees are planted at the rate of one tree for every 35 linear feet of property abutting a street.
Hendersonville TN Tree Replacement — Site Plan Tree Replacement Plan + 75% Native
Heavy RestrictionsTree Ordinances
Hendersonville's tree-protection framework operates through four layers: (1) Tree City USA designation (32 years through 2023, plus 26 Growth Awards) — requiring a tree board/department, tree care ordinance, ≥ $2/capita annual community forestry budget, and Arbor Day observance; (2) Site Plan and Design Review Checklist landscape standards — Tree Survey, Tree Replacement Plan, Tree Protection Fencing, 75% native, 2.5-in caliper / 6-ft evergreen minimums, 1 street tree per 35 ft; (3) Title 18 Stormwater Ordinance (revised Sept 10, 2024) — Tree Removal Permit linkage to Land Disturbance Permit ($50 + $10,000/acre); and (4) federal overlay — USACE Nashville District Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan governing trees on federal fee land.
Hendersonville TN Tree Ordinance Framework — Tree City USA + Title 18 + Planning Standards
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Sumner County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hendersonville city rules.
Tree Protection in Sumner County →