El Paso, TX Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Max spacing
- 30 ft. between street trees
- Minimum size at planting
- 2-in. caliper, 10 ft. height
- Arterial minimum
- 3-in. caliper, 10 ft. height
- Sidewalk clearance
- 7 ft. minimum branch height
- Street clearance
- 14 ft. minimum branch height
- Location
- Planted in the street parkway
Summary
El Paso spells out exactly how street trees must be planted in the parkway: spacing no more than thirty feet apart, a minimum two-inch caliper trunk (three inches on arterials), and seven-foot clearance over sidewalks and fourteen feet over streets, all set by § 18.46.210 of the Landscape Code.
B.The spacing for all street trees shall be at thirty feet or less for all streets. Every lot over twenty feet wide shall have at least one street tree.C.Adequate vertical clearance below the branches must be maintained for pedestrians, cars, and bicyclists. The minimum height to the lowest branch overhanging a sidewalk shall be seven feet; the lowest height overhanging a street shall be fourteen feet.D.Street trees shall be a minimum of two inches caliper and ten feet in height, except that a street tree shall be a minimum of three inches caliper and ten feet in height for development along any arterial.E.Street trees shall be placed in the parkway of the street, unless the department of transportation director and the planning official requires different locations of trees based on topography or a uniquely shaped lot.
Full Breakdown
Article IV of the Landscape Code, adopted by Ord. No. 18026, § 1, on June 4, 2013, governs where and how a street tree physically goes into the ground. 210(B) fixes the spacing rule: 'The spacing for all street trees shall be at thirty feet or less for all streets. ' Subsection F then works out exact setback math from the curb and sidewalk depending on how wide that parkway strip is, down to two-foot and four-foot minimums, and even specifies grate coverage for planting cutouts in a six-foot-or-wider sidewalk. 46; new residential development must install them, with underground automatic irrigation, before the certificate of occupancy is issued.
Violations & Fines
Street trees planted out of spec -- wrong spacing, undersized caliper, or blocking clearance -- expose the property owner to the same Chapter 18.46 penalty scheme: a misdemeanor fine of up to $2,000 per day under § 18.46.320, plus the code enforcement division's authority to issue citations and the city's separate civil penalty of up to $500 a day after notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart do street trees need to be in El Paso?
How big does a new street tree have to be?
Where exactly does the tree go relative to the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.