Fayetteville, AR Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Fayetteville, AR, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Development, not yard removal
- Plan Required
- Before any land disturbance
- Min Canopy
- 10% to 25% by zoning
- Overlay
- Hillside/Hilltop homes included
- Reviewer
- Landscape Administrator
Summary
Fayetteville's tree permits are development-based, not lot-based. Chapter 167 requires an approved Tree Preservation Plan before land disturbance for subdivisions, large-scale developments, grading, building, and parking-lot permits, and single-family homes in the Hillside/Hilltop Overlay. Everyday removals on an established lot need no permit.
In all new Subdivisions, Large Scale Developments, Industrial and Commercial Developments, and all other improvements listed above, trees shall be preserved as outlined in Table 1 under Percent Minimum Canopy, unless the Applicant has been approved for On-Site Mitigation or Off-Site Alternatives as set forth in subsections (I) & (J) below.
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 167 (Section 167.04), no land disturbance, grading, or tree removal may occur until the city approves a Tree Preservation Plan or, for smaller projects, an Abbreviated Tree Preservation Plan. It applies to subdivisions, large-scale developments, commercial and industrial projects, grading and building permits, parking lots over five spaces, and single-family construction in the Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District. Each site must preserve a minimum canopy percentage from Section 167.04(C) Table 1, ranging from 10% in the C-4 Downtown district to 25% in low-density residential and institutional districts. The Landscape Administrator reviews plans and inspects sites. Removing a healthy tree in your own established yard is not permit-regulated.
Violations & Fines
Clearing or grading before Tree Preservation Plan approval can trigger a Stop Work Order under Section 153.07(C) and delay Final Plat approval or the Certificate of Occupancy until remediation is complete, plus the general penalty under Section 10.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Fayetteville yard?
How much canopy must a development keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fayetteville
Compare Fayetteville to another location·View the Arkansas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle tree removal & heritage trees.