Las Cruces, NM Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Las Cruces, NM, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- City replacement tree
- 24-inch box, 2.25-inch caliper
- Development trees
- 1 per 1,000 sq ft landscaped
- Caliper (new plantings)
- 2 to 2.25 inches
- Dead plants
- Replaced immediately
- Single-family lots
- Exempt from LDC standard
Summary
When the city removes a street tree over sidewalk root damage, it offers the abutting owner replacement trees, minimum 24-inch box and 2.25-inch caliper. New commercial development must plant one tree per 1,000 square feet of required landscaping.
Trees means deciduous or conifer trees having a two-inch to 2 1/4-inch caliper at the time of planting located throughout the required landscaped area... A minimum of one live tree shall be provided for every 1,000 square feet of required landscaped area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Land Development Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Two Las Cruces rules govern tree replacement. Under Chapter 26 (Streets and Sidewalks), when tree roots damage a sidewalk the city repairs the walk, may remove the tree, and offers the abutting owner an equal number of replacement trees from an approved list; the minimum installed size is a 24-inch box container with a 2.25-inch caliper trunk. For development, Land Development Code Sec. 32-267 requires landscaping trees of two-inch to 2.25-inch caliper, one live tree per 1,000 square feet of required landscaped area, and Sec. 32-273 requires dead plant material in required landscaping be replaced immediately. Single-family homes on individual lots are exempt from the development landscaping standards.
Violations & Fines
Failure to maintain or replace required development landscaping is a nuisance abatable under Chapter 18; Land Development Code violations carry Municipal Court fines up to $300 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the city removes my street tree, do I get a replacement?
Do homeowners have to replace dead trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Las Cruces
Compare Las Cruces to another location·View the New Mexico landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.