Grand Prairie, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Grand Prairie, 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 size threshold
- 8 caliper inches or larger
- Mitigation fee
- $200.00 per caliper inch
- Enforcing official
- Tree Preservation Administrator
- Cure period after violation
- 5 days to revise plan
- Permit hold
- No CO until mitigation and fees complete
Summary
Grand Prairie bans removing any Protected Tree, defined as any species 8 caliper inches or larger that is not on the city's Unprotected Tree list, unless the Tree Preservation Administrator has authorized removal under an approved tree protection plan. Unpermitted removal blocks plats, site plans, and building permits, and triggers a $200-per-caliper-inch mitigation fee.
1. No Protected Tree shall be removed unless: a. The tree is located on property subject to General exemption, Section 8.16.2 or Exempt development applications, Section 8.16.3; or b. Removal of the tree has been authorized under an approved tree protection plan pursuant to Tree protection requirements, Section 8.16.6, and authorized by Tree removal evaluation and authorization, Section 8.16.8. c. Removal has been authorized by the Tree Preservation Administrator. 2. Clear-cutting of land without City approvals associated with this section is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Unified Development Code Article 8, Section 16 makes tree removal a permitting matter, not a private choice. 8. Clear-cutting without city approval is separately prohibited. A-B). D; denial is grounds to deny the associated plat, site plan, or building permit. 5, submitted with the applicant's contact information, the property address, and identification of each tree to be removed. 9(B), with the Administrator's approval needed to instead preserve smaller trees as a substitute. F).
Violations & Fines
If the Administrator finds Protected Trees removed in violation of an approved plan, or that construction-phase protection measures (drip-line fencing, no grading within the critical root zone) are not being followed, the property gets 5 days to submit a revised tree protection plan under Section 8.16.8.G(1)(a). Failing that, the city issues a cease-and-desist stop-work order halting all construction activity until a revised plan is submitted and accepted, per Section 8.16.8.G(1)(b). Unmitigated caliper inches remain billable to the Urban Forest Fund at $200 per inch before any building permit or certificate of occupancy will issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own house lot in Grand Prairie?
What counts as a Protected Tree in Grand Prairie?
What happens if I remove a Protected Tree without authorization during construction?
How much does it cost to mitigate a removed tree instead of replanting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Prairie
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Grand Prairie to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle tree removal & heritage trees.