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Washoe County, NV Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Tree removal permit rules in Washoe County, NV, 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 removal permit
Not required
Tree-preservation ordinance
None (county)
Buffer by hazard
30 / 50 / 100 feet
Crown clearance
10 feet from structure
Governing code
WUI Code (TMFPD)

Summary

Unincorporated Washoe County does not issue tree-removal permits for private trees, and has no tree-preservation ordinance. In wildland-urban interface hazard zones the fire district instead requires thinning, spacing and pruning of trees for defensible space.

City-specific rules exist: Reno has its own tree removal & heritage trees rules that differ from Washoe County's county-level regulations. If you live in Reno, check the city-specific page instead.

Tree crowns within the Defensible Space shall be pruned to remove limbs located less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the ground surface adjacent to the trees.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Tree-preservation permitting in the Truckee Meadows is a municipal (Reno/Sparks) program, not a county one; the unincorporated county has no ordinance requiring a permit to remove a healthy private tree. The controlling requirements instead flow from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District's adoption of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. In Moderate/High/Extreme hazard zones, owners must maintain defensible space per WUI Code Table 603.2 (30, 50, or 100-foot buffers) and prune trees so crowns keep 10-foot clearance from structures and limbs stay 6 feet off the ground. Confirm whether your parcel is in a city, an HOA, or a fire hazard overlay before removing trees.

Violations & Fines

No county removal-permit penalty. In a WUI hazard zone, failure to maintain required defensible-space tree spacing/pruning can draw a TMFPD correction notice and abatement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a county permit to remove a tree?
No. Unincorporated Washoe County issues no tree-removal permit for private trees. Confirm you are not inside Reno or Sparks, which have their own tree rules.
What tree rules actually apply here?
In a wildfire hazard zone, the fire district's WUI Code requires defensible-space buffers (30/50/100 ft) and pruning crowns to 10-foot clearance with limbs 6 feet off the ground.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washoe County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsWeed OrdinancesSome RestrictionsTree TrimmingSome RestrictionsRainwater HarvestingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet LimitsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome Restrictions

All Washoe County rules

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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Cities Across Washoe County

Reno, NV