Tree removal permit rules in Loudoun County, VA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Loudoun County does not require permits for tree removal on private residential property outside regulated overlays. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Resource Protection Areas (RPAs) impose strict 100-ft stream buffer protections per Ord. Ch. 1220. Development site plans preserve designated trees per FSM Chapter 3. Historic districts (Waterford, Goose Creek, Middleburg) require Certificate of Appropriateness for significant tree removal. Virginia banned Bradford pear as noxious weed 2024. Street trees are VDOT or town-managed.
Loudoun County, consistent with Virginia Dillon's Rule limits on local authority, does not impose a broad tree removal permit on unincorporated private residential property. Regulated pathways: (1) Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area — Loudoun Ord. Ch. 1220 implements VA Code §10.1-2100 et seq. RPA 100-ft stream buffers along Goose Creek, Catoctin Creek, Sugarland Run, Broad Run, and the Potomac; RPA tree removal needs Water Quality Impact Assessment permit; violations to $32,500/day under VA §62.1-44.15:74. (2) Subdivision preservation — trees designated on approved development plans under FSM Chapter 3 cannot be removed; violations $500-$5,000 per tree. (3) Historic districts (Ord. Ch. 1500) — Waterford, Goose Creek, Middleburg, Aldie, Hamilton, Lincoln, Hillsboro require Certificate of Appropriateness from Historic District Review Committee for removal of significant trees on contributing properties. (4) VDOT right-of-way trees along state-maintained roads (most Loudoun roads) — permit required from VDOT per 24VAC30-380 Land Use Permit Manual. (5) Incorporated towns — Leesburg, Purcellville have narrow tree protection codes for commercial property, town-owned trees, and public R-O-W. Virginia Code §10.1-1420.02 banned Bradford/Callery pear as a noxious weed effective 2025; removal encouraged. Hazardous tree removal always permitted without permit but consider liability.
RPA removal (Ch. 1220): to $32,500/day + restoration. Subdivision preserved tree: $500-$5,000 + 2:1 replacement. VDOT ROW: unpermitted removal citation + restoration cost. Historic district: $250-$5,000 + restoration.
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See how Loudoun County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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