Arlington, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Arlington, TX, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Code section
- UDC § 5.2.3
- Residential minimum
- 35% inventory (lots over 1 acre)
- Non-residential rule
- Net-positive plan or mitigate
- Fee in lieu
- Reforestation Fund per caliper inch
- Enforced by
- Zoning Administrator (Planning & Development)
Summary
Arlington requires a tree Preservation Plan for all development under UDC Section 5.2.3. Residential sites over one acre must preserve at least 35 percent of their tree inventory; non-residential and multi-family projects must reach a net-positive plan or mitigate by replanting or paying into the Reforestation Fund.
All non-residential development, including multi-family, shall achieve a net positive Preservation Plan. This is achieved when the Preservation Plan equals or exceeds zero tree points. In the event the Preservation Plan is less than zero tree points, the applicant shall mitigate using one or both of the following methods: (1) Newly planted trees ... three caliper inches or greater in size at the time of planting ...; or (2) Payment into the Reforestation Fund for the total of all unmitigated caliper inches times the fee established for Tree Replacement ...
Full Breakdown
The Cross Timbers oak ecosystem drives Arlington's rules. Any development, from parking lots to subdivisions, must file a Preservation Plan with Planning and Development Services at the plat, site-plan, or building-permit stage. Residential tracts over one acre preserve a minimum 35 percent of the Minimum Inventory; multi-family in non-residential zoning also hits 35 percent, while RMF-22 and mixed-use hit 10 percent. Non-residential projects must reach a net-positive tree-point plan or mitigate by planting three-caliper-inch trees or paying the Reforestation Fund per the fee schedule. The Zoning Administrator certifies preserved trees and enforces critical-root-zone protection.
Violations & Fines
Removing protected trees without an approved Preservation Plan, or falling short of the required preservation percentage, forces mitigation: replanting three-caliper-inch trees or paying the Reforestation Fund for every unmitigated caliper inch removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove trees in Arlington?
What happens if I can't preserve enough trees?
Does the rule apply to my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle tree removal & heritage trees.