Raleigh, NC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Sec. C sets the mitigation ratio for lawful, permitted tree removal inside a recorded tree conservation area. The property owner satisfies it one of two ways: preserving one or more undisturbed alternate areas of equal size containing similar vegetation, meeting the same priority-area standards as the trees removed, or planting a 2-inch caliper shade tree for every 200 square feet of tree-disturbed land, placed either between the principal building and the roadway or in an approved alternate area. Where the removed tree was a priority-area tree under Sec.

d that was certified hazardous, unhealthy, or dead, the replacement ratio jumps to 10 caliper inches of new shade trees per removed tree, planted within the same recorded conservation area, with each replacement tree at least 2 caliper inches. All substituted or newly planted areas must be recorded with the Wake County Register of Deeds as tree conservation area. For unlawful removal, not permitted, just discovered after the fact, Sec. 8 requires the violator to remove the unlawfully disturbed tree and replace it with a tree or trees of equal caliper, under a replanting plan the Parks and Cultural Resources Director must approve first.

Replacement trees must be 2 inches in caliper, planted in an area of at least 200 square feet with minimum 8-foot dimensions, and can't be sited in conservation area with a basal area over 80 square feet per acre. If the site has no room left for the required replacement trees, the owner pays a $100-per-caliper-inch fee to the City instead.