Harlingen, TX Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Historic tree threshold
- 60-inch trunk circumference
- Protected tree threshold
- 24-inch circumference or 8-inch caliper
- Permitting agency
- Planning and Development Dept.
- Applies to
- Nonresidential zoned property
- Max fine
- $500 per violation
Summary
Harlingen designates any protected tree with a trunk 60 inches or more in circumference as a "historic tree," triggering the city's tree-removal permit and mitigation process before it can come down.
Historic tree means any protected tree having a trunk circumference of 60 inches or more measured at 4.5 feet above natural grade. ... Protected tree means any tree, regardless of species, having a trunk circumference of 24 inches, or caliper of greater than eight inches, measured at four feet above natural grade.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4546847; v3 updated 2025-07-16).
Full Breakdown
Under the zoning code's landscape article, a "historic tree" is any protected tree with a trunk circumference of 60 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet above grade. The broader "protected tree" threshold is 24 inches circumference or 8 inches caliper. On nonresidential property, removing a protected (including historic) tree requires a tree-removal permit from the planning and development department and one of three mitigation steps: building around the tree for a landscaping credit, transplanting it, or cutting it down and replanting two 4-inch-caliper trees (or four 2-inch-caliper trees) per tree removed.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected or historic tree without a permit or required mitigation is a Code violation punishable by a fine up to $500 under the city's general penalty section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree "historic" in Harlingen?
Does this rule cover residential yards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harlingen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harlingen to another location·View the Texas tree protection overview
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Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle heritage & protected trees.