Hendersonville has been a Tree City USA community for 32 years (designated by the Arbor Day Foundation through 2023) and also received a Tree City USA Growth Award (26 years), so it maintains a tree care ordinance and an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. The City does not require a permit for routine pruning of healthy trees on private residential property. Pruning of public/right-of-way trees and trees within Old Hickory Lake's USACE-managed shoreline buffer requires advance authorization. Tennessee common law (UT Extension SP687) allows an adjoining landowner to trim overhanging branches back to the property line.
The Arbor Day Foundation named Hendersonville a 2023 Tree City USA — the City's 32nd year of achieving Tree City status and 26th year of receiving a Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and an outstanding level of tree care. Tree City USA requires four standards: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Hendersonville meets all four. For private property, routine pruning of healthy trees on residential lots does not require a City permit; however, the City's Tree Removal Permit Application Checklist (Planning Department) governs significant cutting on lots subject to land disturbance review. Trees within the public right-of-way are maintained by the City (Public Works/Planning). Trees on USACE-managed Old Hickory Lake shoreline are subject to the 2020 Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan: limbs may be trimmed up to one-third the height of the tree, not to exceed seven (7) feet, in Limited Development Areas; cutting of trees greater than one inch in diameter is prohibited in those zones. Tennessee common law (UT Extension SP687) allows an adjoining landowner to trim overhanging branches back to the boundary, provided no trespass occurs and the tree is not killed. Tree topping (the indiscriminate removal of a tree's canopy to stubs) is widely treated as malpractice and is inconsistent with Tree City USA standards.
Improper pruning of a public/ROW tree may be referred to the Planning Department (615-264-5316). Pruning over the USACE shoreline limits at Old Hickory Lake (more than one-third of canopy height or more than 7 feet, or cutting trees >1 inch DBH where prohibited) is enforced by USACE Nashville District rangers and may result in restoration requirements and federal civil penalties. Cutting a neighbor's tree without permission exposes the cutter to civil damages under Tennessee common law.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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See how Hendersonville's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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