Chapter 82 of the City Code protects designated species including live oak (Quercus virginiana), bald cypress, and other heritage species. Removing or damaging a protected tree on public property or right-of-way without a permit from Parks and Parkways is prohibited.
Post-Katrina reforestation increased focus on protecting iconic species that define the city's canopy. Chapter 82 designates live oaks, cypress, and certain other species as protected, and the Parkway Partners and Parks and Parkways Department maintain a heritage tree list. Trees on public rights-of-way, neutral grounds, and parks fall squarely under Parks and Parkways jurisdiction; private trees are generally not regulated as to removal but become regulated when a building permit, demolition, or grading work could affect them. Replacement requirements scale with the diameter and species of the removed tree, and the Tree Bank fund collects in-lieu fees that finance new plantings.
Unauthorized removal or significant damage of a protected tree on public property or right-of-way is a Chapter 82 violation. Penalties include restitution at appraised tree value, replacement at multiple times the trunk size, and per-day fines for ongoing violations.
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