Midland, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Midland, TX, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Applies to
- new/expanded non-residential development
- Trigger
- trees can't be placed on site
- Fee basis
- install cost + market rate/caliper inch
- Fund
- Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund
- Max fine
- $2,000 (Sec. 11-9-10)
Summary
When new commercial or mixed-use development in Midland can't fit its required street-front or parking-lot shade trees on site, the developer may pay a fee into the city's Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund instead of planting them.
In cases where street front trees and/or parking lot trees cannot be placed, due to existing improvements, a public safety risk, or a practical hardship, tree requirements may be satisfied by contributing to the City of Midland Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund, an amount equal to the cost of installation plus the current market rate per caliper inch necessary to meet the minimum requirements of Section 11-9-3(B) of this Chapter.(C)C-l, Central Area District.1.In cases where street front trees and/or parking lot trees cannot be placed due to existing improvements, a public safety risk, or a practical hardship, and the property is located within the C-l, Central Area District, tree requirements may be satisfied by contributing to the City of Midland Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund an amount equal to the cost of installation plus the current market rate per caliper inch necessary to meet the minimum requirements of Section 11 -9-3(B) of this Chapter or by installing approved civic art and/or a similar streetscape enhancement component, if approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission or the City Council. (Ordinance 8889, sec. 1, adopted 5/10/2011)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Midland's landscape ordinance requires shade trees along street frontage and in parking lots for new or expanded non-residential development (Sec. 11-9-2, 11-9-3(B)). Under Sec. 11-9-8(B)(2), if street-front or parking-lot trees genuinely can't be placed because of existing improvements, a public safety risk, or a practical hardship, the requirement can instead be met by paying the City of Midland Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund an amount equal to installation cost plus the current market rate per caliper inch needed to meet the Sec. 11-9-3(B) minimums.
Violations & Fines
The Title XI general penalty applies: a fine up to $2,000 per Sec. 11-9-10. Notably, failing to pay the in-lieu fee itself is not a violation of the chapter, but installing fewer trees than required without an approved fee-in-lieu alternative is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a fee instead of planting required trees in Midland?
Does this tree rule apply to a single-family home remodel?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Midland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Midland to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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