Garland, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Garland, TX, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Protected tree threshold
- 6-inch minimum diameter
- Civil penalty
- $250 per diameter inch removed/injured
- Tree inventory age limit
- Completed within 730 days
- Small-removal waiver
- 5 or fewer protected trees
- Class 1 replacement ratio
- 2 caliper inches per diameter inch
- Enforcing office
- Planning Director / Planning Department
Summary
Removing a protected tree anywhere in Garland requires City authorization first. Development sites need a Planning Director-approved Tree Management Plan before removal (GDC § 4.56), and undeveloped sites need a separate Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Department. Removing or injuring a protected tree without authorization draws a civil penalty of $250 per diameter inch under § 4.57.
(F) Effect - Tree Removal Authorization. Approval of a Tree Management Plan by the Planning Director, or Director's designee, results in a Tree Removal Authorization. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or destroy any protected tree without first obtaining Tree Removal Authorization, except as provided for residential lots in Section 4.54.1(B). (A) Civil Penalties. Any person, or property owner, who engages or participates in, allows, or suffers the following prohibited activities, will be subject to civil penalties in the amount of two hundred and fifty dollars per diameter inch of tree removed or injured: (1) The removal of any tree in violation of this Article 4; or (2) Injuring a tree by failing to comply with the tree protection measures required by this Article 4, and the injury causes, or may reasonably be expected to cause, the tree to decline or die.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4862189; v40 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
55(R) unprotected list. 56 requires a Tree Management Plan, prepared by a certified arborist or registered landscape architect, showing a current tree inventory (completed within 730 days), the location and species of trees to be removed and preserved, protective fencing, and a mitigation plan; the Planning Director may waive a stand-alone plan only where five or fewer protected trees are removed. 56(F) makes it unlawful to remove or destroy a protected tree without one, except for a protected tree on an already-occupied single-family, townhouse, or two-family lot.
56(G) instead requires a Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Department, supported by a tree survey from a registered landscape architect or arborist identifying every tree proposed for removal and a tree replacement plan; the permit issues only after that replacement plan is approved. 5:1 for Class 3 species such as hackberry, mesquite, and cottonwood.
Violations & Fines
Section 4.57(A) sets a civil penalty of $250 per diameter inch of tree removed or injured in violation of Article 4, whether the tree is destroyed outright or damaged by non-compliant construction protection measures that cause it to decline or die. Penalties are assessed and adjudicated through the City's administrative enforcement procedure in Chapter 24 of the City Code, and collected fines go into a dedicated reforestation and tree management fund used to replant trees elsewhere in the City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Garland?
What happens if I cut down a protected tree without authorization in Garland?
Does the tree removal permit rule apply to my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Garland to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle tree removal & heritage trees.