Heritage live oaks (Quercus virginiana) and other significant trees on public property and in many historic districts are protected under the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Article 23 and Department of Parks and Parkways rules. Trimming a heritage live oak generally requires a permit from Parks and Parkways. Routine trimming of private trees that are not designated heritage specimens is allowed without a permit.
Live oaks are the iconic street tree of New Orleans, with many specimens in Audubon Park, City Park, and along St. Charles Avenue exceeding 200 years old. The New Orleans CZO Article 23 (Landscape, Stormwater Management, and Screening) and City Code Chapter 110 protect trees on public property and certain heritage trees on private property. Any tree on the public right-of-way (including the neutral ground and the strip between sidewalk and curb) is the city's tree, and trimming, topping, or removal requires a permit from the Department of Parks and Parkways. Heritage live oaks meeting size thresholds (typically 32 inches diameter at breast height) are presumptively protected even on private property in some historic districts; pruning more than 25 percent of the canopy or any cut over 4 inches in diameter usually requires a permit and an ISA-certified arborist. Topping (indiscriminate stub cuts) is prohibited as it damages tree health. Property owners must contact Entergy and the Department of Parks and Parkways before pruning trees that contact power lines; Entergy has its own line-clearance program. Hurricane preparation pruning should be planned well before storm season and should follow ANSI A300 standards. Damaging or killing a protected tree without permit can trigger fines and replacement requirements based on the tree's appraised value.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact New Orleans code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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