Killeen, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Killeen, 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
- Required trees (new development)
- Street frontage divided by 25
- Canopy tree share
- At least 50 percent
- New tree minimum size
- Two-inch caliper, six feet tall
- Existing-tree credit
- Four-inch caliper, undisturbed drip line
- Removal permit / mitigation fee
- None
Summary
Killeen has no tree-preservation ordinance or tree-removal permit. Its landscaping code makes new commercial and multifamily development plant one tree per 25 feet of street frontage, at least half canopy species, two-inch caliper minimum, and credits preserved existing trees of four-inch caliper or larger.
(b) Trees. The following requirements shall apply to tree landscaping: (1) The minimum number of required trees shall be calculated by dividing the lot or parcel frontage ... by 25. ... (2) Not less than fifty percent (50%) of the required trees planted in the area to be landscaped shall be canopy trees. (3) Newly planted trees shall measure at least two (2) inch caliper and six (6) feet high at the time of planting ... (4) Existing trees to be used for landscape credit shall ... measure at least four (4) inch caliper and shall be maintained in an undisturbed area within the drip line of the tree.
Full Breakdown
Section 8-510 governs trees through the City of Killeen Landscaping Regulations, not a preservation regime. Nonresidential, apartment-complex, and commercial sites divide street frontage by 25 to set the required tree count, with at least fifty percent canopy species and a two-inch-caliper, six-foot minimum at planting; a landscape plan is submitted with the building permit. Existing four-inch-caliper trees kept undisturbed within their drip line earn landscape credit, and a credited tree that dies must be replaced. Single-family, R-1, R-2, and agricultural lots are exempt, so removing a yard tree needs no permit and triggers no mitigation fee. The building official enforces compliance.
Violations & Fines
The building official enforces through stop-work orders, citations, or summons under Code section 1-8. Dead or missing required trees must be replaced within thirty days of notice; continued noncompliance is treated as an ongoing violation and nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Killeen?
Does Killeen charge a tree mitigation fee or require replacement?
How many trees must a new commercial project plant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Killeen to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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