Oklahoma City Chapter 56 designates heritage trees and certain native species as protected. Removal requires a permit, replacement at a 2-to-1 ratio, and arborist documentation, especially on commercial sites and rights-of-way.
Chapter 56 of the OKC Municipal Code identifies heritage trees by species, size, and historical value, with bur oak, post oak, pecan, and large native elms commonly qualifying. Removal of a heritage tree requires application to the urban forester, justification such as disease or hazard, and replacement plantings at 2-to-1 ratio using approved native species. Commercial development sites must inventory existing protected trees during plan review. Right-of-way trees are city property and may not be removed without explicit Parks Department authorization regardless of who paid for original planting.
Unauthorized removal of a heritage or protected tree can carry fines of several hundred to several thousand dollars per tree under Ch. 56, plus mandatory replacement costs assessed against the property owner.
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City does not have a formal heritage or landmark tree ordinance that protects specific individual trees on private property. The city's Urban Forest...
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City does not mandate tree replacement on private residential property when trees are removed. However, the Unified Development Ordinance includes l...
See how Oklahoma City's protected tree species rules stack up against other locations.
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