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Jefferson Parish, LA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing code
UDC § 33-6.27.4 (Protected trees)
Protected species
Oaks (not water oak), elms, magnolias, sycamore
Protection threshold
8 in. DBH (24 in. for other canopy trees)
Unlawful removal fee
$100/inch DBH, doubled replacement size
Appeal path
BZA within 30 days of decision

Summary

Jefferson Parish's tree preservation ordinance protects specific species once they reach a set trunk size, regardless of what zoning district or neighborhood conservation area they sit in. Section 33-6.27.4 designates every oak but water oak, every elm, every magnolia, and any sycamore as a protected significant tree once it reaches eight inches DBH, plus any canopy tree of twenty-four inches DBH or more.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(b)Significant trees shall include the following species that have a DBH of eight (8) inches or greater:(1)All oaks, except water oaks.(2)All elms.(3)All magnolias.(4)Sycamore.(5)Any tree that contributes to the canopy and has a DBH of at least twenty-four (24) inches, except Bald cypress trees and prohibited trees listed in subsection (e) below.(6)Replacement trees required in section 33-6.27.10.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

4 defines which trees the program actually protects. A 'significant tree' is any oak other than a water oak, any elm, any magnolia, or a sycamore, once the trunk reaches eight inches in diameter measured at breast height (DBH); any other canopy tree reaches the same protected status once it hits twenty-four inches DBH, unless it is a bald cypress or a species the parish's list of approved plant materials marks prohibited. A protected tree keeps that status if at least half its base sits within a preservation area, and any tree planted to replace a removed protected tree becomes protected the moment it is installed, no matter its size.

10. A tree a licensed arborist certifies as hazardous or diseased, with the parish arborist's concurrence, can be replaced one-for-one instead of by caliper inch.

Violations & Fines

Tree permitting, protection, and replacement obligations run with the property owner responsible for the work, per Section 33-6.27.13(a). Unlawfully removing a significant tree doubles the replacement burden: Table 33-6.27.13-1 requires replacement at twice the removed tree's DBH plus the standard per-inch fee, so a thirty-six-inch oak cut without a permit carries a $6,000 fee on top of required replacement plantings. Decisions of the parkways director, including those based on the parish arborist's findings, may be appealed to the board of zoning adjustments within thirty days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tree species does Jefferson Parish protect?
Section 33-6.27.4(b) protects all oaks except water oaks, all elms, all magnolias, and sycamore once the trunk reaches eight inches DBH, plus any other canopy tree that reaches twenty-four inches DBH, unless it is a bald cypress or a species on the parish's prohibited plant list.
What happens if I cut down a protected tree without a permit?
Section 33-6.27.13 doubles the replacement obligation for an unlawfully removed significant tree and adds a $100-per-inch fee for every inch of DBH above twelve, calculated against the doubled size, so a sixty-inch oak removed without authorization carries a $10,800 fee under the table in that section.
Can I remove a protected tree in the Metairie Ridge or Old Metairie districts without approval?
Only within the narrow 'uncontested removal areas' Section 33-6.27.5 defines for those two conservation districts, generally the buildable area inside setbacks, and even there you must submit an application and replace each removed significant tree under Section 33-6.27.10, either on-site or by paying a fee-in-lieu.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Jefferson Parish

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsHeritage & Protected TreesSignificant RestrictionsParkway PlantingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSignificant Restrictions

All Jefferson Parish rules

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