Lexington, KY Tree Protection: Tree Ordinances (2026)

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government protects trees primarily through Article 26 of the LFUCG Zoning Ordinance (Landscape, Buffering, and Tree Protection) and the Tree Preservation Ordinance administered by the Division of Environmental Services. Development projects disturbing more than 1 acre must submit a tree inventory and tree preservation plan identifying trees 12 inches DBH and larger, with mitigation required for removal of protected specimen trees. Street trees in public rights-of-way are owned and managed by LFUCG, and removal or significant pruning requires a permit from Environmental Services. The urban county maintains an approved street tree list specifying species suitable for planting under power lines, in medians, and along residential streets. Private homeowners in most residential zones can remove trees on their own property without a permit, but the Rural Activity Center, Conservation zones, and floodplain overlay districts impose restrictions. Historic overlay H-1 and H-NL (Neighborhood Landmark) require Board of Architectural Review approval before removing mature trees. New subdivisions must plant one street tree per lot plus buffer yard landscaping along arterials. Damaging or removing a public street tree without permit carries fines up to 500 dollars plus replacement cost of the tree, which for mature specimens can exceed several thousand dollars. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining clearance over sidewalks (8 feet) and streets (14 feet) and can be cited for overgrown limbs blocking visibility at intersections.