Douglas County, NE Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Douglas County, NE, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Ordinary removal
- No county permit required
- Trigger
- Subdivision/site-plan landscaping only
- Small tree ratio
- 3 in. or less = 1 replacement
- Large tree ratio
- Over 9 in. = 4 replacements
- Reviewer
- County Environmental Services (§ 9.04)
Summary
Unincorporated Douglas County has no permit to cut down a tree on ordinary property, but subdivisions and site-plan developments that remove existing trees must replace each one under a caliper-based schedule in their required landscaping plan.
Each landscaping plan shall include an inventory of existing trees on the site within the developable area excluding designated open space. Each tree of an approved species shall be replaced by another approved tree according to the following schedule. All replacement trees shall be consistent with the requirements of this Article.
Table 9.3 – Tree Replacement Schedule
Caliper measurement of removed tree
Required number of replacement trees for each removed tree
Page 17 of 18
3 inches or less 3.1 to 6 inches 6.1 to 9 inches Over 9 inches
1 tree 2 trees 3 trees 4 trees
Full Breakdown
Douglas County's Zoning Regulations don't require a permit for a landowner to remove a tree on unincorporated land. The requirement is development-triggered: Section 9.13 requires that whenever a landscaping plan is submitted for a subdivision final plat or other development site plan, any tree removed from the developable area must be replaced under Table 9.3's caliper schedule -- one replacement tree for trees 3 inches or less, two for 3.1 to 6 inches, three for 6.1 to 9 inches, and four for anything over 9 inches. Replacement species must meet the Article's approved-species standards. Landscaping plans are reviewed and approved by county Environmental Services staff under Section 9.04.
Violations & Fines
Removing trees without accounting for the required replacement count on a development's landscaping plan blocks final plat recording or site-plan approval; Douglas County Environmental Services can reject or delay approval until replacements are shown on the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my property in unincorporated Douglas County?
Do these rules apply if I live in Omaha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.