Arlington County, VA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Arlington County Code Ch. 67, Art. III
- Designation process
- County Board ordinance after public hearing
- Private-lot consent
- Owner consent required on single-family parcels
- Removal standard
- Only for public need or severe hardship
- Penalty
- Civil fine up to $2,500 per violation
- Appeal window
- 30 days to pay or appeal to court
Summary
Arlington County designates heritage, memorial, specimen, and street trees by County Board ordinance after a public hearing, and once designated a tree cannot be removed or damaged except for an overriding public-improvement need or severe hardship. Violators face a civil penalty up to $2,500 per violation.
No heritage, memorial, specimen, or street tree shall be removed or damaged in any way unless the County Board determines that: (i) there is an overriding need for public improvements; or (ii) a severe hardship exists for reasonable use of a site. Should the County Board determine to permit such treatment, the County Board may require that the tree be replaced with a similar tree or trees to approximate the canopy lost, and must issue a writing specifying the action permitted, the tree and its location, and the findings justifying the permission.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 67, Article III of the Arlington County Code (§§ 67-6 through 67-9) governs heritage, memorial, specimen, and street trees on public or private property. Designation starts when a County urban forester or a County Manager-designated arborist recommends a tree to the County Board; any person may nominate a tree on public property, and only the owner may nominate a tree on a single-family lot, whose consent is also required before the Board can designate it. The Board must hold a public hearing first. For a tree on private property, the County Manager must notify the owner by certified mail when the recommendation arrives and again at least 30 days before the hearing; owners may request up to a six-month extension, and may not destroy the tree while the designation is pending.
Once designated, § 67-7 bars removing or damaging the tree unless the Board finds either an overriding need for public improvements or a severe hardship for reasonable use of the site; if permitted, the Board can require a replacement tree to approximate the lost canopy and must issue written findings. The County Manager may still authorize removal without a Board finding if an arborist or urban forester determines the tree is dead, irreversibly diseased or damaged, or hazardous. Section 67-9 exempts federal or state property, emergency work, routine utility line maintenance, minor home gardening and landscaping, and commercial silviculture or horticulture.
If a designation amounts to a taking of private property, § 67-6(D) requires the County to compensate the owner to the extent recognized under state or federal law.
Violations & Fines
Under § 67-8, causing, contributing to, or permitting injury to, removal of, or destruction of a heritage, memorial, specimen, or street tree carries a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for each violation. The County Manager imposes the penalty by issuing a civil summons; the recipient has 30 days to pay the fine to the Treasurer of Arlington County or to appeal the violation to the General District Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a heritage tree from my own private property?
Does the County need my consent to designate a tree on my property?
What happens if I damage a designated tree?
Are routine landscaping or utility repairs exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia tree protection overview
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