Tyler, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Tyler, 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
- Single-Family Homes
- No permit required
- Applies To
- MF, commercial, office, industrial
- Trigger
- Clearing & Grading Permit
- Inventoried Trees
- 6-inch DBH or larger
- Agricultural Zone
- No requirement
Summary
Tyler requires no tree-removal permit for single-family homeowners. Tree preservation applies only in multifamily, commercial, office, and manufacturing districts, where a Clearing and Grading Permit and a 6-inch-DBH tree inventory are required before clearing.
The requirements of this code regarding clearing of land without a building permit will apply to all land within the city limits, as now or hereafter set, in all multifamily, commercial, office, and manufacturing districts.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: July 2026: Including amendments through July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 10-301 limits Tyler's tree-preservation requirements to multifamily, commercial, office, and manufacturing zoning; there is no requirement in the Agricultural Zone and none for single-family residential lots. In covered districts, Sec. 10-303 requires a Clearing and Grading Permit before any clearing, plus an inventory of all living trees 6 inches DBH or larger within a 40-foot buffer along street frontage and a 25-foot buffer along other boundaries. The Development Services Engineer approves the permit only if a 40-foot undisturbed area is preserved along 75 percent of the street frontage and 25-foot undisturbed areas along 75 percent of the side and rear lines. Utility and right-of-way work is exempt.
Violations & Fines
Clearing trees without a required Clearing and Grading Permit is unlawful (Sec. 10-304); the owner must mitigate by replanting within six months and faces municipal court fines under Sec. 1-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my Tyler yard?
When is a tree permit required in Tyler?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tyler
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Tyler to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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