Cedar Park, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Cedar Park, 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
- Critical root zone preserved
- At least 50%
- Crown removal cap
- 30% maximum
- Site retention rate
- 50% of qualifying trees
- Qualifying tree size
- 8-inch caliper or larger
Summary
Cedar Park's tree ordinance sets numeric development limits: at least 50% of a preserved tree's critical root zone must stay undisturbed, no more than 30% of its crown may be cut, and half of a site's qualifying trees must be retained.
A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the critical root zone shall be preserved at natural grade, with natural ground cover. ... A maximum of thirty percent (30%) of the viable portion of a tree's crown may be removed. ... Fifty percent (50%) of the existing number of trees or total caliper inches of trees on site that are eight-inch caliper or greater and are from species included in the preferred plant list or of equivalent value shall be retained and protected.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4973212; v14 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
Beyond individual removal permits, Cedar Park's subdivision code imposes site-wide tree preservation design criteria on every development. At least 50 percent of a preserved tree's critical root zone (the area within a circle sized to its trunk caliper) must stay at natural grade with natural ground cover, and no cut or fill deeper than 4 inches may occur within half that radius of the trunk. No more than 30 percent of a tree's viable crown may be removed for construction. On top of those per-tree limits, developers must retain at least 50 percent of the existing trees, or total caliper inches, on site that are 8-inch caliper or larger and drawn from the preferred plant list.
Violations & Fines
Site and construction plans that don't meet the critical-root-zone, crown-removal, and retention thresholds are rejected in plan review by the Director of Development Services under § 12.12.022(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a tree's root zone must Cedar Park developers preserve?
Is there a limit on trimming a tree's crown during construction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Park
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Cedar Park to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Williamson County handle tree removal & heritage trees.