San Antonio has a comprehensive Tree Preservation Ordinance under UDC Section 35-523. Trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 8 inches or more are considered significant and are protected during development. Heritage trees (24 inches DBH or greater, or certain species at 10 inches DBH) receive the highest level of protection and generally cannot be removed.
The San Antonio Tree Preservation Ordinance (UDC Section 35-523) is one of the strictest in Texas. Significant trees are those with 8 inches DBH or greater. Heritage trees are defined as any tree 24 inches DBH or greater, or Texas Ebony, Texas Mountain Laurel, or Madrone trees at 10 inches DBH or greater. Removal of heritage trees is prohibited unless the tree is dead, diseased, or poses an imminent hazard. For development projects, a tree survey and preservation plan are required before clearing begins. Developers must preserve or mitigate significant trees through replacement planting or payment into the city's tree mitigation fund. Single-family residential properties on lots of 1 acre or less are exempt from the ordinance for non-heritage trees, but heritage tree protections still apply. The city's Development Services Department administers the program with the assistance of a certified arborist.
Removing a heritage tree without authorization is a Class C misdemeanor with fines of up to $500 per tree per day. Additional civil penalties for heritage tree violations can reach $100,000 per tree. Significant tree violations carry fines of up to $500 per tree and require replacement planting at specified ratios.
San Antonio, TX
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See how San Antonio's tree ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
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