Fort Worth, TX Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Significant-tree threshold
- 24 inches diameter (18 for post/blackjack oak)
- Permit issuer
- Urban forestry administrator
- Preservation credit
- 1.5x actual canopy size
- Replacement option
- 5:1 canopy planting from Table B
- Mitigation fee option
- Payment into tree fund, Sec. 2-322
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $2,000, per tree, per day
- After-the-fact permit
- Double fee, one per property per 5 years
Summary
Fort Worth requires a permit from the urban forestry administrator before removing a Table B protected tree once it reaches 24 inches in diameter, or 18 inches for post oak and blackjack oak, under Zoning Ordinance Section 6.302(g)(5). Removal is allowed only through one of four listed mitigation paths.
(5) Preservation of significant trees.
a. Significant protected trees listed in subsection (n), Table B, that are 24 inches in diameter (75.36 inches in circumference) and post oaks and blackjack oaks that are 18 inches in diameter (56.55 inches in circumference) can only be removed by permit issued by the urban forestry administrator. Preservation of a significant tree will be credited to the required preserved canopy cover one and one-half times the actual canopy size. ... Table B. Protected Species Large Canopy Trees (over 40 feet tall and 20 inches or more in diameter when mature)
American elm Ulmus americana Bur oak* Quercus macrocarpa Live oak* Quercus virginiana Post oak Quercus stellate Must preserve 50% if on site
Full Breakdown
302(n) lists Fort Worth's protected species by canopy size class: large canopy trees such as American elm, bur oak, cedar elm, live oak, pecan and post oak; medium canopy trees such as Chinquapin oak, lacebark elm and Texas red oak; and smaller species. 5 times its actual canopy size toward required coverage. 5 times the removed tree's canopy on or off site (matching species for post oak/blackjack oak); planting new Table B trees at five times the removed canopy area; paying a mitigation fee into the tree fund under City Code Section 2-322; or securing an Urban Design Commission-approved mitigation plan.
A property owner who removes a protected tree without first getting a permit may apply for an after-the-fact permit at double the normal fee, but only if the removal would have met the rules in effect at the time; a second after-the-fact permit is barred for the same violator, or for the same property within five years of an earlier one.
Violations & Fines
Illegal removal is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000, with removal of each protected tree a separate offense and every continuing day a separate offense. A civil penalty under City Code Section 2-322 may be stacked on top, suspending all permits on the property until paid, and is appealable to the city council within ten calendar days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Fort Worth trees count as protected and significant?
How can I legally remove a protected tree in Fort Worth?
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
Do I get credit for keeping a protected tree instead of removing it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas tree protection overview
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