Heritage tree protection in Travis County is concentrated inside the City of Austin, which defines heritage trees as 24 inches diameter and over of certain native species. Unincorporated Travis County has no heritage tree designation, though plat conditions and conservation easements can apply.
The City of Austin Heritage Tree Ordinance under City Code 25-8-624 protects 14 native species including pecan, bald cypress, Texas ash, live oak, and bur oak when diameter at breast height equals or exceeds 24 inches. Removal requires a Land Use Commission variance and fee in lieu mitigation. This ordinance applies inside the full-purpose city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction for subdivisions. Truly unincorporated Travis County has no parallel heritage tree designation due to Texas county zoning constraints. Hill Country Conservancy and the Texas Land Conservancy hold conservation easements on specific Travis County properties that protect old-growth canopy through private deed instruments rather than public regulation.
Unauthorized removal of an Austin heritage tree can incur civil penalties of 2,000 dollars per inch of diameter under Austin City Code 25-8-680, plus replanting requirements at three-to-one or higher ratios.
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See how Travis County's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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