Hamilton County, TN Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Art. V, § 303.B Plantings
- Planting ratio
- 1 tree per 35 linear feet of frontage
- Tree spacing
- 15 ft minimum, 50 ft maximum trunk to trunk
- Minimum mature height/canopy
- 35 ft tall, 20 ft canopy spread
- Street yard depth
- 8 feet from right-of-way
- Exempt
- 1-, 2-, 3-family homes on own lot
Summary
New and expanding commercial or multi-family developments in unincorporated Hamilton County must plant one street tree per 35 linear feet of right-of-way frontage in the required eight-foot street yard, with trees spaced 15 to 50 feet apart and able to reach 35 feet tall.
1) Trees shall be planted within the street yard at a minimum ratio of one (1) tree per thirty-five (35) linear feet of right-of-way frontage. Trees do not have to be evenly spaced in thirty-five (35) feet increments. Fractions of trees shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. 2) The minimum spacing between trees is fifteen (15) feet measured trunk to trunk. The maximum spacing is fifty (50) feet measured trunk to trunk. 3) The trees referred to in this section shall have a minimum expected maturity height of at least thirty-five (35) feet and a minimum expected canopy spread of twenty (20) feet.
Full Breakdown
Article V, Section 303 of the Hamilton County Zoning Regulations requires a street yard, a planted strip at least eight feet deep measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, wherever a covered development adjoins a street; alleys are exempt. B sets the planting standard: trees go in at a minimum ratio of one tree per 35 linear feet of right-of-way frontage, with fractions of a tree rounded up, and trees are not required to sit in even 35-foot increments. Spacing must run between 15 feet and 50 feet trunk to trunk.
3. B exempts one-, two-, and three-family homes on their own lot from the whole Article, so this planting mandate targets commercial, office, industrial, and multi-family street frontages, not single-family yards. 2.
Violations & Fines
Failure to install the required street trees before occupancy can hold up the Certificate of Occupancy under Section 302.C, or trigger a performance bond requirement under Section 310. General Zoning Regulations violations are misdemeanors under Article VIII, Section 105.B, with fines of $25 to $100 and each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the street tree rule apply to a single-family home in unincorporated Hamilton County?
How far apart do street trees have to be planted?
What species qualify as a street tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hamilton County
Compare Hamilton County to another location·View the Tennessee tree protection overview
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