Kyle, TX Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Kyle's tree article, § 54-12, singles out specimen trees for its highest level of review. A specimen tree is defined in § 54-12(c)(9) as a tree meeting or exceeding the diameter shown in the article's Table 1 for its species, sound and upright, with no more than one major dead limb, no major insect or disease problems, no topping damage, and at least 75 percent of its critical root zone undisturbed. Subsection (d)(5) then requires 'all reasonable efforts' to save a specimen tree, meaning alternate building design, building placement, parking layout or stormwater measures, before removal is even considered.

Removing, damaging or disturbing a specimen tree in any way requires prior, specific approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission, not staff sign-off, and any specimen tree that is approved for removal must be replaced inch-for-inch at a two-to-one ratio, regardless of where on the site the replacement trees are planted. Existing platted one- and two-family residential lots get a break: their replacement obligation is cut to half the standard value. The Director of Planning and Community Development can bypass the Commission only for a narrow administrative exception: a specimen tree that is dead, diseased beyond recovery, or an imminent hazard to public safety or structures, and only after the owner submits a report from an ISA Certified Arborist documenting the condition and risk plus dated photo documentation, along with a formal removal justification package including a tree survey exhibit and a preservation-alternatives analysis.