Rock Hill, SC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Tree removal in the City of Rock Hill is governed by a layered framework. The Rock Hill Municipal Code (https://library.municode.com/sc/rock_hill) does not impose a general tree-removal permit on private single-family residential property. Routine removal of healthy, dead, diseased, or hazardous trees on private lots is generally allowed without a City permit, though removals near power lines require coordination with Duke Energy and any active right-of-way work requires a Public Works ROW permit. Trees in the City right-of-way (street trees) and on other public property are protected under the Rock Hill Public Tree Ordinance administered by the City Forester (Matt Clinton, 803-329-5534) within Community Forestry (https://www.cityofrockhill.com/departments/utilities/community-forestry); unauthorized removal of a public tree is a violation. The Rock Hill Tree Commission (https://www.cityofrockhill.com/government/boards-commissions/boards-commissions-list/rock-hill-tree-commission) serves as the appeals board on tree-ordinance violations and operational decisions, meeting the second Monday of each month at 5 PM at the City Operations Center, 757 South Anderson Road. Commercial, industrial, multifamily, and subdivision development projects face tree-protection conditions under Chapter 31 (Zoning) and Planning & Development site-plan review (https://www.cityofrockhill.com/departments/planning-and-development/development-plan-review/development-regulations), with a City Landscape Architect reviewing landscape plans and inspecting final installations. Construction-site land disturbance exceeding one acre triggers South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES, formerly DHEC) NPDES construction stormwater permitting under the federal Clean Water Act and SC Regulation 72-300 (Stormwater Management and Sediment Reduction). Rock Hill has been a Tree City USA since 1987, requiring an active community tree ordinance.