Round Rock, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Round Rock, 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 size
- 8-inch diameter or larger
- Undeveloped-lot threshold
- 20 inches in listed districts
- Mitigation fee
- $150 per diameter inch
- Replacement ratio
- 1:1 for 8-19 inch trees
- Monarch trees
- City Council approval to remove
Summary
Round Rock protects trees eight inches in diameter or larger under Chapter 8, Article III of the Zoning and Development Code. Removing a protected tree during development requires a permit and on-site replacement or a mitigation payment, enforced by the city Forestry Manager.
Except as provided below, a tree having a diameter of eight inches or more is a protected tree. On all developed lots in zoning districts SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, SF-D, MH, TF, and MU-L, and on developed lots smaller than 15,000 square feet in all other zoning districts, only monarch trees are protected trees. On all undeveloped lots in zoning districts SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, SF-D, MH, TF, and MU-L, and on undeveloped lots smaller than 15,000 square feet in all other zoning districts, trees having a diameter of 20 inches or more are protected trees.
Full Breakdown
Under Round Rock Code § 8-17, any tree measuring eight inches or more in diameter (at 4.5 feet above grade) is a protected tree. On developed lots and lots under 15,000 square feet in residential districts (SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, SF-D, MH, TF, MU-L), only monarch trees are protected; on undeveloped lots in those same districts the threshold rises to 20 inches. Six species including Hackberry, Chinese Tallow, Texas Cedar, and Honey Mesquite are exempt. Protected trees removed for development must be replaced (a 1:1 ratio applies to 8-to-19-inch trees) or mitigated at $150 per diameter inch. A monarch tree, whose diameter reaches 80 percent of the largest of its species in the city, may be removed only with City Council authorization.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree without an approved tree removal permit, or failing to replace or pay mitigation, violates the Zoning and Development Code and stops plan approval until the Forestry Manager signs off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tree is protected in Round Rock?
Do I have to replace a protected tree I remove?
Are any trees exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Round Rock
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Round Rock to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Williamson County handle tree removal & heritage trees.