Tree removal permit rules in Mecklenburg County, NC — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Mecklenburg County has strong tree protection rules. The Post-Construction Controls Ordinance and Charlotte Tree Ordinance regulate removal of heritage trees and trees within stream buffers. A Tree Save Area permit is typically required for removals on developed parcels.
Under the Mecklenburg County Post-Construction Controls Ordinance and the Charlotte Tree Ordinance (Code Chapter 21), removing trees larger than 30 inches DBH, trees within SWIM (Surface Water Improvement and Management) buffers, or trees in designated Tree Save Areas requires approval from Charlotte Urban Forestry or the county arborist. Healthy single-family homeowners can generally remove trees in their private yards without a permit, but stream buffer and slope trees remain protected. Violations in regulated areas trigger replacement ratios and civil penalties.
Unauthorized removal of protected trees can incur fines up to $500 per tree plus mandatory replacement at 2:1 to 4:1 ratios. Commercial removal without a permit can exceed $10,000.
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See how Mecklenburg County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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