Denton, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Denton, 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
- Governing section
- DDC § 7.7.4
- Landmark trees
- 100% preservation required
- Heritage/quality preservation
- 30% of total dbh
- Heritage replacement
- 2.5 inches per inch removed
- Demolition-permit threshold
- 10 inches dbh protected
Summary
Denton requires a tree removal permit before clearing protected trees on development sites, mandates preserving at least 30 percent of heritage and quality tree dbh, keeps 100 percent of landmark trees, and forces replacement planting or a tree-fund mitigation fee for what comes down.
To determine the replacement inches required by this section, the applicant shall inventory and combine the total inches of dbh of all protected trees that are to be removed and that are located within the development impact area. This inventory shall be separated into inches of dbh removed per protected tree classification as calculated using the following replacement rates: a. Heritage Tree - Two and one-half inches for every inch removed; b. Quality Tree - Two inches for every inch removed; and c. Secondary Tree - Four inches for every tree removed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Under Denton Development Code Section 7.7.4, no protected tree may be removed for development until the final plat is approved and the Building Official issues a tree removal permit. A certified arborist must prepare a tree survey and preservation plan. Landmark trees get 100 percent preservation; heritage and quality trees require preserving at least 30 percent of total dbh within the development impact area. Removed trees are replaced at two and one-half inches per inch for heritage, two inches per inch for quality, and four inches per secondary tree, with each replacement at least two inches dbh. For single-family demolition permits the protected threshold is 10 inches dbh. Enforcement runs through Section 1.6.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree without a permit, or failing to meet the preservation and replacement requirements, triggers the enforcement and penalty provisions of Development Code Section 1.6, including a possible stop-work order and required mitigation planting or tree-fund payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Denton?
How much tree replacement does Denton require?
Can I pay a fee instead of replanting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle tree removal & heritage trees.