Tree removal permit rules in Durham County, NC — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Durham's UDO requires developments to preserve a minimum share of tree coverage, so trees cannot be cleared freely on land under development. Suburban-tier projects must keep at least 20% preserved tree coverage.
The joint Durham City-County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) 8.3.1 sets tree-coverage minimums that limit clearing during land disturbance. In the Suburban tier a minimum of 20% preserved tree coverage is required for any phase not exceeding 35 acres (rising to 30% for larger phases), while Urban and Compact Neighborhood tiers require at least 7%. 'Major specimen trees' get extra protection. There is no citywide permit simply to remove one tree from an established single-family yard, but clearing associated with new construction, subdivision, or site plans must meet the coverage and buffer standards. Trees in a riparian or landscape buffer are separately protected and may not be removed.
Clearing below required tree coverage, or removing protected/buffer trees, violates the UDO and can require replanting, mitigation, and civil penalties through Durham City-County Planning.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Durham County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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