Hendersonville, TN Tree Protection: Tree Ordinances (2026)

Hendersonville's composite tree ordinance regime operates through four distinct layers. (1) Tree City USA: The Arbor Day Foundation named Hendersonville a 2023 Tree City USA — the City's 32nd consecutive year of designation and 26th Growth Award. Tree City USA requires four standards (tree board or department, tree-care ordinance, ≥ $2 per capita annual community forestry budget, Arbor Day observance and proclamation); the City must meet all four annually to maintain the designation. (2) Site Plan Landscape Standards: The Planning Department's Site Plan and Design Review Checklist requires a Tree Survey, a Tree Replacement Plan, and Tree Protection Fencing on the grading sheet for regulated development sites. The landscape standards require ≥ 75% native species among required-planting trees, deciduous shade trees ≥ 2.5-in caliper at planting, evergreen trees ≥ 6 ft at planting, street trees at one per 35 linear feet of property abutting a street, planting beds ≥ 5 ft wide, parking-lot perimeter shrub beds ≥ 7 ft, topsoil ≥ 24 in deep × 25 sq ft (or 50 cubic ft), and tree/light pole separation ≥ 14 ft. (3) Title 18 Stormwater Ordinance: Revised effective September 10, 2024, Title 18 (Water and Storm Sewers) administers the Land Disturbance Permit ($50 application + $10,000/acre surety) with Tree Survey and Tree Removal review by Planning as required components. Applications submit through css.hvilletn.org. (4) Federal Overlay — USACE: Trees on the Old Hickory Lake federal shoreline (USACE Nashville District fee land) are governed by the 2020 Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan; vegetation activities require advance written USACE approval, limbs may be trimmed up to 1/3 height (max 7 ft) in Limited Development Areas, and cutting of trees > 1 inch DBH is prohibited in those zones. Property Maintenance (615-590-4662) and Planning (615-264-5316) coordinate enforcement.