St. Tammany Parish, LA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in St. Tammany Parish, LA, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- SF lots 5+ acres (non-subdivision)
- Two-family threshold
- Lots 0.5 acre or more
- Subdivision threshold
- 6+ lots on 5+ acres
- Permit validity
- 2 years
- Natural area buffer
- 50 ft along external roadways
- Lot-size incentive
- 5% per 5% extra natural area, cap 20%
Summary
In unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, clearing land or removing trees ahead of construction requires a land clearing permit under UDC Section 600-3.2, but only above certain thresholds: single-family lots of 5 acres or more, two-family lots of a half-acre or more, and larger subdivisions all need the permit before a building or site-work permit can issue. Smaller residential lots are exempt.
B.Applicability.1.Permit required. A land clearing permit is required, prior to the issuance of a building permit or site work permit, for any type of tree removal or land clearing work associated the following development types:a.Residential, including:i.Single-family residential developments on individual lots measuring 5 acres or more, and not a part of a platted subdivision; andii.Two-family residential developments on individual lots measuring 0.5 acre or more.2.Exempted developments. The following proposed developments shall be exempt from the land clearing regulations of this section:a.Single-family residential developments on individual lots measuring less than 5 acres and not part of a platted subdivision; andb.Two-family residential developments on lots measuring less than 0.5 acres.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
5 acre or more, multi-family developments of 3 or more units, subdivisions creating 6 to 24 lots on more than 5 acres, and any subdivision of 25 lots or more, along with most nonresidential and forestry or agricultural projects of 5 acres or larger. 5 acre, and forestry or agricultural clearing of 5 acres or less. 2(B)(6), and every permitted site must preserve a Natural Area buffer, generally 50 feet along external roadways per Exhibit 600-3-1-1, with narrower 25-foot street and 50-foot side and rear buffers for large single lots outside a subdivision. 3. 2(B)(7) bars any zoning map amendment to a more intense district for 3 years after a land clearing permit issues on the site.
Violations & Fines
Clearing land or removing trees on a site that meets the Section 600-3.2(B)(1) thresholds without first obtaining a land clearing permit blocks issuance of the building or site work permit the project needs, and Section 600-3.2(C)(3) limits the Department of Planning and Development's grounds for denying a compliant application to a lack of site access or a failure to meet Chapter 600 standards. Clearing performed under a permit obtained on inaccurate information is subject to the same suspension and revocation authority the Director holds over any UDC permit under Section 300-2(J).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to clear trees on my property in St. Tammany Parish?
How long does a St. Tammany land clearing permit last?
Can I reduce my lot size requirement by preserving trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana landscaping rules overview
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