Tree removal permit rules in Nashville, TN — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Nashville's Metro Code Chapter 17.24 and Chapter 2.226 require tree removal permits for protected, retained, or heritage trees. Unauthorized removal triggers replacement requirements at the owner's expense.
Under Metro Code §17.24, no person may remove or damage any retained, protected, or heritage tree without first obtaining a Tree Removal Permit from the Zoning Administrator. Heritage trees are 24"+ in diameter at breast height (DBH). Trees removed without a permit must be replaced at the equivalent density of tree density units (TDU). Non-residential properties must achieve a tree density factor of 22 TDUs per acre. The Metro Tree Review Panel reviews Metro government projects involving removal of trees over 100 aggregate inches DBH. Dead, diseased, or invasive trees require no replacement. Trees in utility easements or rights-of-way have separate permit processes. No replacement required if a tree dies naturally from drought.
Unauthorized removal: must replace at equivalent TDU density + possible fines for zoning violation.
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See how Nashville's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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