Chesterfield County, VA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Chesterfield County, VA, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Homeowner permit
- Generally not required
- Development canopy
- 20-year minimum required
- Enabling law
- Va. Code Sec. 15.2-961.1
- Protected size
- Trees 3 inches DBH+
- County rule
- Zoning landscaping conservation plan
Summary
Chesterfield requires tree preservation, not homeowner tree permits. During subdivision or site development, plans must preserve or replace trees to meet Virginia's tree-canopy targets under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-961.1, and the county's landscaping ordinance protects trees three inches DBH or larger.
The ordinance shall require that the site plan for any subdivision or development provide for the preservation or replacement of trees on the development site such that the minimum tree canopy or tree cover percentage 20 years after development is projected to be as follows
Full Breakdown
Individual homeowners removing trees on an existing lot generally need no permit. Tree-protection permitting instead attaches to land development: because the Richmond metro is an air-quality area, Chesterfield may require, under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-961.1, that subdivision and site plans preserve or replace trees so projected 20-year canopy meets minimums (about 10% for dense commercial up to 30% for the lowest-density residential). The county's zoning landscaping division requires conservation plans showing existing trees three inches DBH or larger and the number to be preserved outside the building envelope. Removing protected or buffer trees without an approved plan can halt a project and force replanting.
Violations & Fines
Clearing trees on a development site contrary to an approved conservation/landscape plan can trigger stop-work orders, denial of plan approval, and mandated replacement plantings; RPA-buffer clearing adds Bay-ordinance penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a homeowner need a permit to remove a tree?
How much tree canopy must new development keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesterfield County
Compare Chesterfield County to another location·View the Virginia landscaping rules overview
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