The Woodlands, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in The Woodlands, 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
- Threshold
- Live tree over 6 inches diameter
- Measured
- Two feet above natural grade
- Approval
- Prior written Plan Review Committee OK
- Replacement
- 30-gal tree for 6-19 inch trunks
- Enforcer
- Township Covenant Administration
Summary
In The Woodlands, no living tree over six inches in diameter (measured two feet above natural grade) may be removed without prior written approval from the Township's Plan Review Committee. This is a covenant standard enforced by Covenant Administration, not a city ordinance.
No living tree greater than six inches in diameter as measured at a point two feet above natural grade may be removed without prior written approval. Trees to be removed must be flagged on site... Approval for tree removal will be considered if the tree: Is located up to five feet from a house or other existing permanent structure... Has been determined as damaged, diseased or otherwise hazardous by a third-party certified arborist... Any living tree removed from the lot may require replacement.
Full Breakdown
Standard 2.7 of The Woodlands Residential Development Standards bars removing any living tree greater than six inches in diameter, measured two feet above natural grade, without prior written approval, and trees slated for removal must be flagged on site. The Plan Review Committee (the Development Standards or Development Review Committee) approves removal only in narrow cases: the tree sits within five feet of a house, pool, or planned construction; a certified arborist deems it damaged, diseased, or hazardous; or it is on the invasive-species list. Removed trees may require replacement, with a 30-gallon tree owed for trunks 6 to 19 inches on lots with insufficient canopy. The Woodlands Township Covenant Administration enforces this through the recorded deed restrictions, not a municipal permit counter.
Violations & Fines
Removing a qualifying tree without prior written approval is a covenant violation. The Woodlands Township Covenant Administration can require replacement plantings, order restoration, and pursue injunctive relief under the deed restrictions to compel compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need approval to remove a tree in The Woodlands?
When will removal be approved?
Do I have to replace a tree I remove?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in The Woodlands
Texas rules heatmap·Compare The Woodlands to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Montgomery County handle tree removal & heritage trees.