Hampton, VA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing document
- City of Hampton Landscape Guidelines
- Applies to
- Street trees in public rights-of-way
- Effective date
- Plats filed after Aug. 15, 2011
- Modifications by
- Subdivision agent, case by case
Summary
Hampton requires street trees placed in public rights-of-way within new subdivisions to follow the City of Hampton Landscape Guidelines for species selection and spacing, applying to every subdivision plat filed after August 15, 2011.
All landscaping required to be installed, including but not limited to the location of street trees in all public rights-of-way, the provision of vegetative buffers for double frontage lots and properties zoned SPI-CBPD, and the selection and spacing thereof shall comply with the regulations in the "City of Hampton Landscape Guidelines" maintained by the department of community development, development services center. Planting requirements for all landscaping may be modified by the subdivision agent to address concerns including, but not limited to: providing for a vegetative buffer adjacent to an incongruent use, revegetating an RPA or IDA buffer or in conformance with good planning practices in compliance with any applicable provisions of the City Code or the zoning ordinance.(B)This section shall apply to any subdivision plat filed subsequent to the 15th day of August, 2011. (Ord. No. 11-0009, 8-10-11; Ord. No. 13-0004, 4-10-13)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Under the subdivision ordinance's landscaping section, any street trees located in public rights-of-way, along with vegetative buffers for double-frontage lots and SPI-CBPD-zoned properties, must be installed and spaced according to the City of Hampton Landscape Guidelines maintained by the Department of Community Development's Development Services Center. The subdivision agent may modify planting requirements to add buffering next to an incongruent use, to revegetate a Resource Protection Area or Intensely Developed Area buffer, or otherwise to match good planning practice consistent with the City Code or zoning ordinance. The requirement binds every subdivision plat filed on or after August 15, 2011.
Violations & Fines
Landscaping shown on an approved subdivision plat is enforced through the plat and development-plan approval process; failing to install the required street trees can hold up recordation, final inspection, or occupancy approvals for the subdivision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides what street trees go in front of a new Hampton, Virginia subdivision?
Does this rule cover trees on already-built Hampton streets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
Compare Hampton to another location·View the Virginia tree protection overview
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