Tree removal permit rules in Forsyth County, NC — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
There is no general permit to cut down a tree on your own home lot. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County tree-preservation rules attach to development and land-disturbing (erosion control) permits, not to homeowners removing their own trees without construction.
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Unified Development Ordinance tree-preservation standards (UDO Section B.3-4.2) apply when a project requires a land-disturbing (erosion control) permit from the Inspections Office or NCDEQ. The city notes the 2009 landscaping/tree-preservation ordinance 'only applies to construction and development projects... not to homeowners seeking to do work on their own trees without any associated construction/development work.' So a resident removing a tree on their own occupied lot generally needs no city tree permit. Right-of-way/street trees are different and require Urban Forestry involvement. Inside towns, confirm local rules.
Removing regulated trees during a permitted development without meeting UDO tree-save or replacement standards can hold up the erosion-control/building permit and require replanting.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Winston-Salem parks are open 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and it is unlawful to be in a public park after closing without permission. A citywide youth-protection...
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Forsyth County and Winston-Salem regulate light trespass only from non-residential property, requiring lighting to be shielded so it does not spill onto neig...
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The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO regulates outdoor lighting only on non-residential property, requiring fixtures to be shielded and aimed so light and gl...
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In Winston-Salem/Forsyth County an on-premises yard or garage sale sign may not exceed two square feet, limited to one sign per lot. It may go up seven days ...
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Under the Forsyth County/Winston-Salem UDO, the base rule limits political signs to two square feet, but Winston-Salem does not enforce that cap for noncomme...
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Forsyth County has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A permanent tiny house on a foundation is treated as a dwelling (or a detached ADU) under the UDO and NC ...
See how Forsyth County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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