Plano, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Plano, 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
- Protected threshold
- 8 inches DBH or larger
- Permit
- Approved Tree Preservation Plan required
- Replacement 8-30 in.
- Inch-for-inch, 4-inch caliper minimum
- Replacement over 30 in.
- 1.5 inches per removed inch
- Enforcing agency
- Planning Dept / Director of Planning
Summary
Plano requires an approved Tree Preservation Plan before any tree 8 inches DBH or larger is removed on vacant, undeveloped, or redeveloping property. Protected trees must be preserved or replaced inch-for-inch, and the city can halt construction with a stop-work order.
No clear-cutting of land is allowed without a permit. The approved Tree Preservation Plan is the permit for the removal of trees subject to this ordinance. No tree 8 inches in DBH or larger may be removed unless it is located in areas specifically exempted in Sec. 17.800.3 or the city has approved removal. ... Trees that are 8 to 30 inches in caliper shall be replaced at an inch-to-inch rate. The minimum size replacement tree shall be 4-inch caliper. Trees that are larger than 30 inches in caliper shall be replaced at a rate of 1.5 inches per one inch of removed tree.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 153).
Full Breakdown
Under Section 17.800 of Plano's Zoning Ordinance, no tree 8 inches DBH or larger may be removed from vacant, undeveloped, or redeveloping land unless it sits in an exempt area or the Director of Planning approves removal. A tree survey and tree preservation plan, including a mitigation plan, must be approved before a project is released for construction. Removed protected trees 8 to 30 inches in caliper are replaced inch-for-inch; trees larger than 30 inches at 1.5 inches per removed inch, with a 4-inch-caliper minimum. Individual single-family, duplex, and attached lots are exempt after initial development and final inspection. The city may issue stop-work orders and accepts a fee in lieu of replacement.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with the tree preservation requirements of Sec. 17.800 is an offense. The Engineering Department may issue a stop-work order, and protected trees removed or damaged without approval must be replaced or mitigated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Plano?
Does this apply to my established home?
How much replacement is required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plano
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle tree removal & heritage trees.