Louisville, KY Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Louisville, KY, 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
- non-residential & multi-family sites
- Not required for
- single-family homeowner tree removal
- Canopy preservation floor
- 20% of covered area (min. 10% w/ waiver)
- Waiver fee-in-lieu ratio
- 1.5 trees per tree lost
- Governing body
- Louisville Metro Planning Commission
Summary
Louisville Metro requires a tree removal permit only on non-residential and multi-family development sites where landscaping and tree canopy standards apply, not for trees in a single-family yard.
A tree removal permit is required for the removal of existing trees on non-residential and multi-family development sites where landscaping and tree canopy were/are required. (see Appendix 10E)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under the Land Development Code, a permit is required to remove existing trees on non-residential and multi-family development sites where landscaping and tree canopy coverage were or are required under Chapter 10 Part 1. That obligation is tied to the tree canopy standards of § 10.1.4, which require developments with 50%-100% existing canopy coverage to preserve at least 20% of the site's tree-covered area, reducible only to 10% with a written Planning Director waiver and fee-in-lieu payment at 1.5 replacement trees per tree lost. Ordinary homeowners removing a tree from their own single-family lot are not covered by this permit; a separate permit applies only to public trees rooted in Metro right-of-way or Metro-owned land under LMCO Chapter 102.
Violations & Fines
Removing tree canopy on a covered development site without the required permit, or below the preserved-canopy threshold without an approved waiver, is a Land Development Code violation subject to Planning Commission enforcement and can hold up site plan approval or occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Louisville yard?
When does a Louisville development need a tree removal permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
Compare Louisville to another location·View the Kentucky landscaping rules overview
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