Chesterfield requires tree preservation, not homeowner tree permits. During subdivision or site development, plans must preserve or replace trees to meet Virginia's tree-canopy targets under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-961.1, and the county's landscaping ordinance protects trees three inches DBH or larger.
Individual homeowners removing trees on an existing lot generally need no permit. Tree-protection permitting instead attaches to land development: because the Richmond metro is an air-quality area, Chesterfield may require, under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-961.1, that subdivision and site plans preserve or replace trees so projected 20-year canopy meets minimums (about 10% for dense commercial up to 30% for the lowest-density residential). The county's zoning landscaping division requires conservation plans showing existing trees three inches DBH or larger and the number to be preserved outside the building envelope. Removing protected or buffer trees without an approved plan can halt a project and force replanting.
Clearing trees on a development site contrary to an approved conservation/landscape plan can trigger stop-work orders, denial of plan approval, and mandated replacement plantings; RPA-buffer clearing adds Bay-ordinance penalties.
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Chesterfield County, VA
Backyard composting of yard and food waste is allowed in Chesterfield County and promoted as a waste-reduction practice. Compost must be kept so it does not ...
Chesterfield County, VA
Chesterfield County has no ordinance banning residential artificial turf. Synthetic lawns are generally allowed, subject to zoning, stormwater and drainage r...
Chesterfield County, VA
Chesterfield County does not require homeowners to plant native species in ordinary yards, but native and regionally appropriate plants are required for rest...
Chesterfield County, VA
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Chesterfield County. There is no ordinance banning rain barrels or cisterns for residential lawn and garden u...
Chesterfield County, VA
Virginia has no statewide mandatory lawn-watering ban. Chesterfield County Utilities issues conservation measures during drought; as of summer 2026 restricti...
Chesterfield County, VA
Chesterfield County Code prohibits uncontrolled weeds and grass. Occupied residential lots under one-half acre are limited to 12 inches; vacant developed and...
See how Chesterfield County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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