Las Vegas, NV Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Las Vegas, NV, 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 issuer
- Superintendent of Parks
- Scope
- Street, parkway, public-ground trees
- Trunk clearance rule
- No branches below 8 ft
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Planting, trimming, removing, or otherwise interfering with any tree on a Las Vegas street, parkway, or public ground requires a permit from the Superintendent of Parks under Chapter 13.48.
No person shall remove, destroy, cut, deface, trim, or in any way injure or interfere with any tree or shrub on any of the avenues, streets or public grounds, including parks and parkways of the City, without a permit from the Superintendent of Parks.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 13.48 governs trees and shrubs standing in City streets, parkways, and other public grounds. A planting permit from the Superintendent of Parks is required before putting any tree in a street or parkway (13.48.010), and the same office must approve any removal, cutting, trimming, or other injury to a street tree (13.48.090). Related sections bar piling building material against a street tree without a guard, tethering animals to one, or running wires that chafe or burn a trunk or root. These rules cover only trees in the public right-of-way. Title 19 zoning, which would address trees on private property, is published separately by the City and isn't part of this codification.
Violations & Fines
No permit-fee schedule is listed in the chapter; violations fall under the Sec. 1.24.010 general penalty: a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim the tree in the parkway strip outside my house?
Do I need a permit to plant a new tree next to the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Las Vegas
Compare Las Vegas to another location·View the Nevada landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Clark County handle tree removal & heritage trees.