Williamson County, TN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Williamson County, TN, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 13.07(A)-(C)(2)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Canopy threshold
- 10,000 sq ft contiguous, 3-in DBH
- Replanting penalty
- 80 trees per disturbed acre
- Survival period
- 3-year establishment, resets if trees die
- Fine range
- $10-$50 per day under Sec. 22.07
Summary
Williamson County's Zoning Ordinance bars clearing land on a proposed development site until the project is approved, and Section 13.07 requires a licensed professional's tree inventory before any clearing begins. Sites with 10,000+ square feet of existing canopy must retain a set share of it, and illegal removal triggers mandatory replanting. Applies only in the unincorporated county.
(A) APPLICABILITY: The standards of this Section shall apply to all development in the County, unless it is exempted in accordance with Section 13.07:(B): Exemptions. (1) Removal of existing vegetation shall not occur on a proposed development site until such time as the development has been approved. ... f) Removal of Protected Tree Canopy: In cases where tree clearing, development work, land disturbance as part of construction, or intentional damage to trees occurs in violation of the standards of this Section, the following shall apply: i) Replanting shall be required at a rate of 80 trees for each acre disturbed or an inch-by-inch caliper replacement. ii) Replacement trees shall have a minimum DBH of three inches at the time planted. iii) Replacement trees shall be maintained through an establishment period of at least three years. If the replacement trees do not survive the establishment period, the applicant shall purchase and install new replacement trees, and the establishment period shall reset.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
07(B). Before any tree clearing, development work, or land-disturbing activity, an applicant must submit a tree inventory prepared by a licensed landscape architect, surveyor, arborist, registered forester, or state-registered engineer, accurate to within three feet; parcels over 10 acres may substitute a current aerial photograph instead. "Existing tree canopy" is defined as a contiguous area of 10,000 square feet or more consisting of the crowns of healthy, self-supporting trees with a diameter at breast height of three inches or greater. 07-1 sets the minimum percentage of that canopy a site must retain, scaled to how much canopy exists pre-development.
Ten exemptions apply, including dead or fallen trees, driveway or intersection sightline clearing, minor traditional subdivisions, single-family lots of record predating the Ordinance, utility easement work, agricultural uses, and removal of trees listed in the current Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council's Invasive Exotic Pest Plants publication. Trees required to be protected must be fenced with a minimum four-foot barrier no closer than one foot to the drip line before grading begins, marked with "TREE PROTECTION ZONE: KEEP OUT" signs at least every 150 linear feet, and nothing may be stored, graded, or constructed inside the fenced tree save area.
Removing canopy within three years before filing a development application triggers the same revegetation duty as an on-site violation. Where tree clearing or intentional damage occurs in violation of the Section, the applicant must replant at a rate of 80 trees per disturbed acre, or an inch-by-inch caliper replacement, using replacement trees with at least a three-inch DBH, and must maintain them through a three-year establishment period that restarts if the new trees die.
Violations & Fines
Clearing protected canopy without the required inventory, or removing trees in violation of Table 13.07-1's retention standards, obligates the applicant to replant 80 trees per disturbed acre (or inch-by-inch caliper replacement) with a three-year survival period that resets on failure. Beyond that remedy, any Ordinance violation is a misdemeanor under Section 22.07, punishable by a $10 to $50 fine per offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, plus available civil enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit before removing trees on my Williamson County lot?
What happens if I clear protected trees before approval?
Are any properties exempt from the tree protection rules?
How must protected trees be fenced during construction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee landscaping rules overview
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