Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Fort Worth vs Haltom City
How do tree removal & heritage trees rules compare between Fort Worth, TX and Haltom City, TX?
Haltom City has fewer restrictions than Fort Worth.
Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 6.302 (Urban Forestry), as amended in April 2025, requires permits to remove protected trees during development and preserves 50% of post oak and blackjack oak canopy. Criminal fines for unlawful removal are $2,000 per tree, with civil penalties up to $1,200 per diameter inch of canopy lost.
View full Fort Worth rules →Haltom City, TX
Tarrant County
Haltom City has no citywide protected tree ordinance for single family lots. Permits may apply to right of way trees, floodplain trees, or required landscape trees on commercial sites.
View full Haltom City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fort Worth | Haltom City |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 6.302 | - |
| Protected Species | 47 (post oak and blackjack oak heightened) | - |
| DBH Threshold | 24 in (18 in for post/blackjack oak east of I-35W) | - |
| Criminal Fine | $2,000 per tree | - |
| Civil Penalty | Up to $1,200 per diameter inch | - |
| Fact | - | No citywide protected tree ordinance for single family lots |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fort Worth FAQ
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Fort Worth yard?
Removing a non-protected tree on an established single-family lot generally does not require a permit, but protected species such as large post oaks require a permit and replacement under Sec. 6.302.
How much is the fine for cutting down a protected tree?
Criminal fines are $2,000 per tree, plus civil penalties up to $1,200 per diameter inch of canopy removed, after the April 2025 urban forestry amendments.
Haltom City FAQ
Do I need a Haltom City permit to cut down a tree in my yard?
Generally no for single family residential lots, unless the tree is in the public right of way, on a commercial site as a required landscape tree, or restricted by plat or HOA documents.
Who owns the tree between the sidewalk and the curb?
Parkway trees in the public right of way are city owned or jointly maintained. Contact Public Works before trimming or removing them.
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