Grand Prairie, TX Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected threshold
- 8 caliper inches, any species not listed
- Unprotected species count
- 20 named species, e.g. hackberry, mesquite
- Measurement point
- 4.5 feet above grade (DBH)
- Public Tree rule
- Protected species on city land, any size
- Mitigation credit ratio
- 1:1 for 3-8 inch existing trees
Summary
Grand Prairie's tree code protects any species 8 caliper inches or larger except a named list of Unprotected Trees such as hackberry, Bradford pear, mesquite, and cottonwood, which carry no removal protection at any size. The distinction controls whether removing a tree triggers a permit and a mitigation fee under Article 8, Section 16.
Protected Tree. Any species of tree eight (8) Caliper Inches or more in size that is not an Unprotected Tree. Public Tree. Any protected tree species regardless of size located in public right of way, parks, or other City-owned property. ... Unprotected Tree. Any tree of the following species regardless of size: Silver Maple, Sugar Hackberry, Hackberry, Honey Locust, Bois d'arc, Bradford Pear, Mimosa, Red Mulberry, Ashe Juniper, Redberry Juniper, White Mulberry, White (Silver) Poplar, Lombardy Poplar, Cottonwood, Willow, Green Ash, Arizona Ash, Black Locus, Mesquite, China Berry, Firethorns.
Full Breakdown
5 feet above grade (diameter at breast height); trees on a slope are measured from the high side, and newly planted trees are measured 6 inches above grade. Multi-trunk trees are measured by combining the largest stem's diameter with half the diameter of each additional stem. The code then names the Unprotected Tree species that get no protection regardless of size: silver maple, sugar hackberry, hackberry, honey locust, bois d'arc, Bradford pear, mimosa, red mulberry, Ashe juniper, redberry juniper, white mulberry, white (silver) poplar, Lombardy poplar, cottonwood, willow, green ash, Arizona ash, black locust, mesquite, chinaberry, and firethorns.
A separate category, Public Tree, covers any protected species regardless of size located in public right-of-way, parks, or other city-owned property, giving those trees protection even under 8 caliper inches. 9, including the $200-per-caliper-inch Urban Forest Fund fee for unmitigated removal. c, but only if they are not located in a designated Non-disturbance area.
Violations & Fines
Misclassifying a Protected Tree as Unprotected on a required tree survey (Section 8.16.6.A) renders the tree protection plan incomplete, which under Section 8.16.8.A makes any associated plat, site plan, or building permit incomplete as well. Removing a tree later found to have been a Protected species without an approved plan exposes the applicant to the same stop-work and revised-plan process, plus the $200-per-caliper-inch mitigation fee, that applies to any unauthorized Protected Tree removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Bradford pear tree protected in Grand Prairie?
How is a tree's caliper inch size measured for the Protected Tree threshold?
Are trees in city parks protected even if small?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Prairie
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Grand Prairie to another location·View the Texas tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle protected tree species.