Asheville, NC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Asheville, NC, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 7-19-6
- Permit trigger
- Steep slope zone, aquatic buffer, or TCPA
- Staff review window
- 10 business days
- Heritage tree replanting
- 200% of removed canopy
- Appeal path
- Per Sec. 7-6-2
Summary
Asheville requires a tree removal permit before cutting any tree in a steep slope zone, an aquatic buffer, or an established tree canopy protection area. The Urban Forester's office reviews applications within ten business days under City Code Sec. 7-19-6.
Sec. 7-19-6. Permitting. (a) Tree removal permits. (1) A permit shall be required for the following activities: a. The removal of any trees on properties within any steep slope zone or an aquatic buffer. b. The removal of any tree within an established tree canopy protection area. (2) Fees. a. Fees for tree removal permit applications shall be established and listed in the current year fees and charges manual. (b) Application requirements: (1) The applicant for a tree removal permit shall supply, at a minimum: a. A ground photo of the tree to be removed; b. A site plan showing the location of the tree to be removed... (2) Staff shall either approve or deny the application within ten business days. (c) Appeals. (1) Appeals of staff decisions will be conducted as detailed in section 7-6-2.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-5: Contains Supplement, current through Ordinance 5245, passed 7-28-2026 | State legislation current through 2025 A.L.S. #3).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 7-19-6 of the Asheville City Code, a permit is mandatory for removing any tree on property within a designated steep slope zone or an aquatic buffer, and for removing any tree inside an established tree canopy protection area (TCPA) created under the city's Article XIX Tree Canopy Preservation rules. Permit fees are set annually in the city's current fees and charges manual rather than fixed in the ordinance text. 4. If the tree is not visibly dead, diseased, or in decline as confirmed by the City's Urban Forester, the applicant must also provide a letter from a certified arborist recommending removal, citing reasons such as the tree being dead or dying or posing a threat to life, property, or other healthy trees under ANSI standards.
Removing a heritage tree triggers a stricter replanting requirement: a plan showing installation of canopy equal to 200 percent of the canopy area removed. City staff must approve or deny a completed application within ten business days of submission. Decisions can be appealed following the procedure in Sec. 7-6-2. The permit requirement traces to Ord. No. 4824 adopted September 8, 2020, and was amended by Ord. No. 5103 on September 24, 2024.
Violations & Fines
Removing a tree without the required permit, or removing canopy protected under a recorded tree canopy protection plan, is enforced under Article 18 of Chapter 7. A violation of the canopy protection requirements in Sec. 7-19-3(4) carries a civil penalty in the amount set by Appendix B of the code. On top of any fine, the violator must still install replacement trees with canopy area equal to what was removed, or 200 percent of the removed canopy if the violation involved a heritage tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove any tree in Asheville?
What has to be submitted with an Asheville tree removal permit application?
How long does the city take to decide on a tree removal permit?
What happens if a heritage tree is removed without following the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Asheville
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