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

Sec. " Because heritage trees sit inside those three geographic categories, Sec. 29½-24(a)(3) already brings any real property in the Old Town Site, the floodplain, or a state-designated historical site under the article's coverage regardless of platting status. Sec. 29½-24(b)(2) then carves out a narrow self-help allowance specifically for heritage trees: an owner of property in one of those three areas may trim heritage tree branches without a permit only if the branches are one inch or less in diameter; trimming branches larger than one inch requires prior approval from the city's urban forester, and the section states that "additional alterations to heritage trees, including but not limited to the removal of same shall be regulated by this article," meaning removal always requires the full tree disposition plan and tree survey process under Sec.

29½-23. Every other exemption in Sec. 29½-24(b), including the single-family-home removal allowance, expressly does not apply to owners of Old Town Site, floodplain, or historical-site property, so heritage tree owners cannot rely on the general homeowner exemption. The article, adopted by Ord. No. 1108-1 on November 23, 2009, is enforced by the urban forester with full authority under the city's code. 2 uses a different, DBH-based heritage tree definition (24-inch DBH, citywide) for development-permit purposes; this General Code Chapter 29½ definition governs outside the development-permit context.