York County, SC Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- County term
- Grand trees
- Most species threshold
- 24-inch DBH
- Champion trees
- Protected any size
- Authority
- York County § 154.200
- Applies during
- Development only
Summary
York County protects "grand trees," its version of heritage trees, on land being developed under Land Development Code Section 154.200. Thresholds run from 24-inch DBH for most species down to 6 inches for dogwood-class trees, plus any state champion tree. Existing homeowners are unaffected.
A grand tree is a tree or group of trees considered to be important community assets due to their unique or noteworthy characteristics. A tree in fair or better health is considered a grand tree based on its species and size as shown in Table 154.200-1: Grand Trees. A grand tree includes any tree that appears on the South Carolina Champion Tree Inventory maintained by the Clemson University Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation.
Full Breakdown
York County designates grand trees rather than using a single heritage label, and the protection attaches when a site is developed or subdivided, not to a tree standing on a finished lot. Table 154.200-1 sets the size that makes a healthy tree grand: 24 inches DBH for most species, 32 for loblolly and shortleaf pine, 12 for American holly, 9 for dogwood, and 6 for blackjack oak, redbud, sassafras, and sourwood. Any tree on the South Carolina Champion Tree Inventory, and any rare or endangered species, is grand at any size, while listed invasive species never qualify. Rock Hill and Fort Mill protect specimen trees within their own limits.
Violations & Fines
None on an existing lot. On a development site, removing a grand tree without a permit or waiver blocks further non-agricultural development until mitigation is provided. City ordinances carry their own penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does York County protect heritage trees?
What size makes a tree a grand tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
Compare York County to another location·View the South Carolina tree protection overview
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