Baytown, TX Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Under Sec. 43, Bufferyard Landscaping, of the Unified Land Development Code, every development must install a streetscape bufferyard outside the street right-of-way (and outside future rights-of-way for corridor projects named in the Comprehensive Plan) along the entire length of the property, excluding driveway openings. The bufferyard starts at the property line next to the street and extends onto the private lot to the required width: 6 feet along local and collector streets, 12 feet along minor and major arterials for lots over one acre (6 feet for lots of one acre or less), and 25 feet along freeways.

Along collectors and arterials, the strip must be planted with large or small trees spaced 30 feet on center plus eight shrubs for every 30 feet to form an intermittent hedge, and at least half the trees along collectors and minor/major arterials must be large trees. Along freeways the code requires a staggered double row: small evergreen trees in the front row planted 20 feet on center, and large trees in the back row planted 25 feet on center with at least half of that back row evergreen, plus eight shrubs every 20 feet in the front row forming an intermediate hedge.

Streetscape landscaping must be placed and maintained so it does not create a visual obstruction and does not violate the visibility triangle set out in Sec. 41, Measurements. This provision (Ordinance No. 16,024) took effect January 1, 2025. 4, Tree Preservation, Landscaping, and Buffering, administered by the Planning Director.