Tree Protection in San Antonio, TX (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for San Antonio, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
San Antonio classifies a tree as a heritage tree once it reaches 24 inches in trunk diameter, or just 12 inches for six ornamental natives like Texas persimmon and Texas mountain laurel. Table 523-1A then requires developers to preserve 100 percent of heritage trees on a platted lot or project site, the strictest standard in the tree preservation ordinance.
San Antonio Heritage Tree Preservation Requirement
Heavy RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-523(f)(1)(B)
B.Heritage Trees. A heritage tree means a tree of twenty-four (24) inches or greater DBH for all tree species except the following species are heritage with at least one (1) trunk being twelve (12) inches or greater DBH (the value of the twelve (12) inches or greater trunk is the value given to these small tree species):i.Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana);ii.Texas redbud (var. texensis);iii.Te...
Protected Tree Species
San Antonio protects any tree of six inches or greater trunk diameter as a 'significant tree,' but five hardy natives, Ashe juniper, huisache, mesquite, Arizona ash and hackberry, need 10 inches before they count, while six ornamentals like Texas persimmon and redbud qualify at just five inches. Sec. 35-523(f)(1)(A) sets the species-specific list that drives every tree permit review.
San Antonio Significant Tree Species DBH Thresholds
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-523(f)(1)(A)
A.Significant Trees. A significant tree means a tree of six (6) inches or greater DBH for all tree species except the following species are significant with at least one (1) trunk being equal or greater than the respective size (DBH):i.Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) - ten (10) inch DBH;ii.Huisache (Acacia farnesiana) - ten (10) inch DBH;iii.Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) - ten (10) inch DBH;iv....
Parkway Planting
San Antonio requires street trees along the public right-of-way whenever a development adds five or more parking spaces or goes through subdivision review. Sec. 35-512 sets spacing by overhead utility clearance: one large tree every 50 feet with no utility conflict, or a medium or small tree every 30 feet under lines, planted in a twelve-foot strip and irrigated for three years.
San Antonio Street Tree Planting Standards
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-512
(a)Applicability.(1)Generally - Interior and Exterior Streets. (Streetscape provisions are not applicable on existing exterior streets.) In addition to developments subject to the landscaping standards, above, the following shall be subject to the streetscape planting standards as provided herein:(A)All developments with five (5) or more parking spaces; and(B)All developments requiring subdivis...
Looking for Bexar County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Antonio city rules.
Tree Protection in Bexar County →