El Paso, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

010) that covers both public and private trees. Its purpose clause commits the city to regulating the planting, maintenance and removal of trees on public property and to prohibiting nuisances or hazards from trees anywhere in the city, public or private. A city arborist administers the chapter, working with Parks and Recreation and the Department of Transportation under an Arboricultural Specifications Manual approved by the city manager. On public property, it's unlawful to intentionally damage, cut, carve, abuse, poison or otherwise harm or injure any tree, the only exception is city-authorized care and preservation work.

No tree species that grows taller than ten feet may be planted within ten feet of an overhead utility wire on public property, and topping public trees is banned outright except crown reduction after storm damage or where utility wires make ordinary pruning impractical. Private property is a narrower target: the chapter only reaches trees that are dead or carry a transmissible disease or insect infestation, which it declares a public nuisance. The city can inspect, then order the owner to remove a dead tree or treat/remove an infected one, immediately if hazardous, or within a minimum thirty days if not urgent, delivered by certified mail, hand delivery, or posting if the owner can't be found.

An owner has ten days to appeal to the City Manager, who refers it to a three-member appeal board (the city arborist, two city-manager-designated directors, and a non-voting Texas Forest Service member) that must hear the case within thirty days; the board's ruling is final unless appealed to district court within twenty days. If the owner never complies, the city can do the work itself and bill the owner, with civil suit available to collect the cost.