Washington County, AR Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Washington County, AR, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- County replacement rule
- None
- State mandate
- None
- Fayetteville hierarchy
- Preserve, mitigate, then escrow
- Single-family homes
- Exempt
Summary
Arkansas requires no replant-what-you-cut rule, and Washington County imposes none. In Fayetteville, development that removes canopy below the required minimum must mitigate on site, preserve off site, or pay into the Tree Escrow Account under UDC Ch. 167.
This chapter shall be enforced according to the following principles: 1. Preservation shall be the first, best, and standard approach. 2. If preservation cannot be achieved, On-Site Mitigation shall next be pursued. 3. If On-Site Mitigation cannot be achieved, Off-Site Preservation shall be pursued. 4. If Off-Site Preservation cannot be achieved, Off-Site Forestation shall be pursued. 5. If none of the above approaches can be achieved, payment shall be made to the Tree Escrow Account.
Full Breakdown
No Arkansas statute and no county ordinance requires replacing a removed tree on private land in Washington County, so replanting is voluntary across the unincorporated Ozark county. Where it is required, the source is Fayetteville's tree ordinance. UDC Ch. 167 sets a strict hierarchy: preservation first, then on-site mitigation, then off-site preservation, then off-site forestation, and only if none can be achieved does the developer pay into the city's interest-bearing Tree Escrow Account. Fayetteville then uses that money to plant trees elsewhere. Single-family homes are exempt, so the duty falls on developers. HOA covenants may separately require replacing a removed canopy tree.
Violations & Fines
None from the county for not replanting. A Fayetteville developer who removes canopy below the minimum without meeting the mitigation hierarchy or paying the required Tree Escrow Account contribution violates UDC Ch. 167. HOA requirements are enforced privately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I replace a tree I remove in Washington County?
What is Fayetteville's Tree Escrow Account?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Arkansas landscaping rules overview
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