Raleigh, NC Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

UDO Sec. 10 applies to tree disturbing activity on sites of 2 acres or more that lack an established or recorded tree conservation area. Within that section, Sec. 3 states flatly that no champion tree, including its critical root zone, is subjected to any tree disturbing activity: the only absolute, no-exceptions tree protection anywhere in the tree conservation article, unlike the permit-and-replace regime that governs ordinary trees. 2 defines a champion tree as any tree listed as the champion or co-champion of its species on the National Big Tree list compiled by the American Forestry Association, the Champion Big Trees of North Carolina list compiled by the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, or the Capital Trees Program list compiled by Wake County Keep America Beautiful.

Because the designation runs with the species record rather than a City-drawn boundary, a champion tree is protected wherever it stands on a covered site, whether inside a designated perimeter buffer, a primary tree conservation area, or open yard space that would otherwise be clear for grading. A tree protection plan approved by the Parks and Cultural Resources Director is required for the rest of the site under Sec. B, and protective fencing must go up before any City permit issues or any tree disturbing activity begins, giving the champion tree a fenced buffer during construction.