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Mount Pleasant, SC Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Protected tree threshold: 8 inches DBH or greater
Significant tree threshold: 16 inches DBH or greater
Governing section: § 156.710 Definitions
Removal rule: § 156.701(B): no removal except per subchapter
Administrator: Zoning Administrator, an ISA Certified Arborist
Max penalty: $500 fine/30 days plus $1,000 civil (§156.709)

Summary

The Town of Mount Pleasant's tree protection subchapter, Town Code § 156.710, defines a 'protected tree' as any tree with an 8-inch or greater diameter at breast height, plus certain smaller trees protected by buffers or approval conditions, and a 'significant tree' as one measuring 16 inches DBH or larger; § 156.701(B) bars removing either without following the subchapter.

PROTECTED TREE. ... Any tree with a diameter breast height (DBH) of eight inches or greater, and any smaller trees protected through special zones or buffers or as a condition of approval by any of the town’s boards or commissions. This term also includes trees planted as mitigation. ... SIGNIFICANT TREE. Any tree with a diameter breast height (DBH) of 16 inches or larger.

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Full Breakdown

701(B) makes clear that protected, significant, or historic trees shall not be removed except in accordance with the subchapter. 710 do the classifying: a protected tree is any tree with a diameter breast height of eight inches or greater, plus any smaller tree that is separately protected through a special zone or buffer or as a condition of board or commission approval, and the term also covers trees planted to satisfy mitigation. 702's removal and replacement standards, including the 160-caliper-inch-per-acre retention minimum applied on residential sketch plans and design-review sites. 708. 583 rather than the tree protection permit process.

Violations & Fines

Removing a protected or significant tree without the § 156.702 permit and mitigation process is an unauthorized-removal violation under § 156.1576(B)(9). Section 156.709(C) classifies the offense as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days imprisonment, plus a civil penalty of up to $1,000, with each tree removed and each day of the violation counted as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size tree counts as 'protected' in Mount Pleasant?

Under § 156.710, a protected tree is any tree with a diameter at breast height of eight inches or greater, along with smaller trees that a special zone, buffer, or board condition separately protects, and any tree planted to satisfy mitigation requirements.

Is a 'significant tree' the same as a 'protected tree'?

No. Every significant tree, defined in § 156.710 as 16 inches DBH or larger, is also a protected tree, but the reverse is not true: a protected tree can be as small as 8 inches DBH and not yet reach the significant-tree size threshold that triggers heavier removal review.

Do invasive trees count as protected trees?

No. Section 156.710 defines invasive exotic species as plants not protected by the chapter, so no matter how large its trunk grows, an invasive tree is removed under the buffers-and-screening invasive species rule in § 156.583, not the tree protection permit process in § 156.702.

Sources & Official References

[1]Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 156.710

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