Durham County, NC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Durham County, NC, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Tree survey trigger
- Within 30 ft of buffer
- Specimen (evergreen)
- 18 inches dbh or greater
- Specimen (deciduous)
- 12 inches dbh or greater
- Protection fencing
- Until construction complete
- Governing code
- Durham UDO 8.3
Summary
Durham requires a tree survey and protection plan for land disturbance near buffers and protected trees. 'Major specimen trees' get special protection, and a land-disturbance tree survey is required within 30 feet of a buffer.
Any evergreen canopy tree 18 inches dbh or greater, any deciduous canopy tree 12 inches dbh or greater and any understory tree (deciduous or evergreen) eight inches dbh or greater.
Full Breakdown
Through the joint City-County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) 8.3, Durham reviews tree removal and protection as part of development approval rather than issuing per-tree yard permits. A land-disturbance tree survey is required wherever the limits of disturbance come within 30 feet of a riparian buffer, required landscape buffer, or other protected area. 'Major specimen trees' are defined by trunk diameter (dbh) and must generally be preserved or mitigated. Tree protection fencing must go up with erosion-control measures and stay until construction is complete. Because Durham and unincorporated Durham County share the UDO, the same standards apply countywide. Removing regulated or specimen trees without an approved plan is a UDO violation.
Violations & Fines
Removing protected or specimen trees, or clearing within a buffer, without an approved plan violates the UDO and can require replanting, mitigation payments, and civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Durham require a permit to remove a tree?
What is a major specimen tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham County
Compare Durham County to another location·View the North Carolina landscaping rules overview
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