Tree Protection in York County, VA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated York County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
York County's subdivision ordinance requires heritage, memorial, significant, and specimen trees to be preserved and protected during development under Sec. 20.5-83. The Board of Supervisors designates heritage and memorial trees by ordinance, and mature trees must be protected under the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Manual while a subdivision is built.
York County Heritage Tree Preservation Rule
Some RestrictionsYork County Code § 20.5-83
The natural terrain and features of the land, including heritage, memorial, significant and specimen trees ... shall be preserved and protected during the development process to the extent possible while enabling reasonable development of property. ... The removal of trees or the clearing and grading of land by the subdivider shall be generally permitted only to accommodate the construction and...
Protected Tree Species
York County's zoning landscaping standards require at least 35% of all plant material installed on a development site to be native to the Virginia coastal plain. Sec. 24.1-242(g) also bars installing any species on the state's Invasive Plant Species List, and it applies to every landscape plan the zoning administrator reviews.
York County Native and Invasive Species Rule
Some RestrictionsYork County Code § 24.1-242(g)
(g)Species standards. ... (2)A minimum of thirty-five (35%) of all plant material installed on a site shall be of a species native to the Virginia coastal plain as published by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.(3)Plant species included on the most current Virginia Invasive Plant Species List published by the Virginia Department of Conversation and Recreation shall not be i...
Parkway Planting
York County requires new subdivisions in nonindustrial zoning districts to plant street trees along every abutting right-of-way under Sec. 20.5-84(b)(6). Trees must go in at least every 40 feet, have a minimum caliper of 2.5 inches, and sit either in the right-of-way itself or a dedicated 10-foot landscape easement.
York County Street Tree Planting Standard
Some RestrictionsYork County Code § 20.5-84(b)(6)
(6)In all subdivisions in nonindustrial zoning districts, deciduous shade, or ornamental trees shall be planted as street trees along all rights-of-way within and abutting the subdivision. Such trees shall be located either within the right-of-way itself or within a ten-foot (10') landscape preservation easement contiguous to such right-of-way and shall contain, at a minimum, one (1) tree plant...
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