Greenville County, SC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Greenville County, SC, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Homeowner lot permit
- Not required
- Ordinance
- Tree Ordinance No. 4173
- Triggering activity
- Development, subdivision, grading
- Key document
- Approved Tree Protection Plan
- Approving office
- Land Development Division
Summary
Greenville County requires no tree-removal permit for a homeowner clearing trees on an established residential lot. The county Tree Ordinance (No. 4173) and Land Development Regulations govern tree preservation during new development, subdivision, and grading, using approved Tree Protection Plans.
The Tree ordinance requirements may be met with trees located within the Open Space. These trees must be clearly identified and labeled as such. A Tree Protection Plan must be submitted and approved.
Full Breakdown
Greenville County's tree-protection framework is Tree Ordinance No. 4173, carried into the Land Development Regulations as tree standards for new development. It applies when land is developed, subdivided, or disturbed under a grading permit, not to routine tree removal by a homeowner on an existing lot. Development projects must record preserved, planted, or credited trees on a Tree Protection Plan that the Land Development Division approves; those protected trees cannot be removed without approval. Required buffer and open-space trees are similarly protected. Trees near regulated wetlands, streams, or floodplains may fall under state or federal rules. Incorporated cities may require tree permits that reach individual lots, so verify with the city if your property is inside a municipality.
Violations & Fines
Removing trees protected by an approved Tree Protection Plan, buffer, or development permit can require replacement plantings and trigger land-development enforcement and stop-work action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Greenville County?
When can I not remove a protected tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville County
Compare Greenville County to another location·View the South Carolina landscaping rules overview
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