Durham, NC Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Major specimen tree - evergreen
- 18 inches dbh or greater canopy tree
- Major specimen tree - deciduous
- 12 inches dbh or greater canopy tree
- Major specimen tree - understory
- 8 inches dbh or greater, either type
- Preservation credit
- 1.5x tree protection zone toward tree coverage
- Protection zone size
- 6-ft radius or 1 ft per inch dbh
- Civil penalty
- $500 per violation under Sec. 15.4.4
- Administering agency
- Durham City-County Planning Department
Summary
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance protects "major specimen trees" on development sites: evergreen canopy trees 18 inches dbh or larger, deciduous canopy trees 12 inches dbh or larger, and understory trees 8 inches dbh or larger. Preserving one earns a developer 1.5 times tree protection zone credit toward required tree coverage, but nonnative invasive species don't qualify.
Specimen Tree, Major: Any evergreen canopy tree 18 inches dbh or greater, any deciduous canopy tree 12 inches dbh or greater and any understory tree (deciduous or evergreen) eight inches dbh or greater, except any tree listed as a nonnative invasive plant by the U.S. Forest Service or prohibited pursuant to the Landscape Manual for Durham, North Carolina... Major specimen trees that are saved and protected under the requirements of paragraph 8.3.2 shall be granted tree coverage credit at one and one-half times the size of the tree protection zone. Major specimen trees that are located in the floodway, non-encroachment area, floodway fringe, non-encroachment area fringe, or Areas of Shallow Flooding (Zone AO), preserved wetlands and wetland buffers, steep slope areas, riparian buffers, Major Transportation Corridor (MTC) buffers, and Durham Natural Inventory Sites are not eligible for additional credit as described above.
Full Breakdown
The City of Durham and Durham County jointly administer the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) through the Durham City-County Planning Department, and its tree standards in Sec. 3, Tree Protection and Tree Coverage, apply the same way inside the city limits as in the unincorporated county. 5, Major Specimen Trees, works with the definition in Sec. S. Forest Service or prohibited under the city's Landscape Manual. 2, the tree earns tree coverage credit at one and one-half times the size of its tree protection zone. That zone is a six-foot radius around the trunk or a one-foot radius for every inch of dbh, whichever is larger, and must be fenced off from grading, storage, dumping, and parking for the duration of construction, with "no trespassing/tree protection area" signs posted every 100 feet.
5x credit. To claim the bonus credit, the applicant must submit a major specimen tree survey showing the location, species, size, and protection zone of every tree to be saved, included on the site, landscape, grading, utility, demolition, and erosion control plans.
Violations & Fines
Under Sec. 15.4, Penalties, the Planning Director or a designee may issue a citation and impose a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation for damaging or removing a protected major specimen tree or breaching its fenced protection zone without authorization. The notice gives the violator 15 days to pay before the city or county pursues civil collection in court. An uncorrected violation can become a continuing violation with a cumulative daily penalty, and an outstanding violation can hold up permits on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "major specimen tree" in Durham?
Does saving a major specimen tree reduce my tree coverage requirement?
Does this rule apply inside Durham city limits or just the county?
What happens if a protected tree is removed without authorization?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham
Compare Durham to another location·View the North Carolina tree protection overview
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