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.
Las Cruces homeowners may remove trees on their own property without a permit. The only restriction is on public and street trees, which under Chapter 26 only the city may cut down, remove, or alter.
For trees growing on private land, Las Cruces imposes no removal permit, no protected-species list, and no replacement mandate on single-family lots, so residents can take down a yard tree freely. The line is drawn at public grounds: Chapter 26 (Streets and Sidewalks) makes it unlawful for anyone other than a city employee, or a supervised volunteer, to remove, cut down, trim, or alter trees or shrubbery in the parkway or right-of-way. If a street tree is damaging your sidewalk, report it; the city repairs the walk and may remove the tree, offering approved replacement stock rather than letting a resident do the work.
Cutting or removing a city or street tree violates Chapter 26: petty misdemeanor up to $500 and/or 90 days under the Municipal Code, plus the cost of replacing the tree.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Las Cruces's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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