Rankin County, MS Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Rankin County and its municipalities do not impose tree removal permit requirements on private single-family residential property. Property owners in Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, and Pelahatchie generally may remove any tree on their own land without a permit, consistent with Mississippi's strong property-rights tradition and Dillon's Rule limits on local regulation. Exceptions: (1) street trees and trees in public rights-of-way are managed by municipal public works and cannot be removed by residents; (2) trees within Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) leasehold or reservoir buffer lands require PRVWSD approval; (3) trees within FEMA regulatory floodway along the Pearl River may be constrained by the city's flood damage prevention ordinance if removal alters flow; (4) subdivision covenants and HOA rules in developments like Castlewoods, Lakeland Heights, and Reservoir-area neighborhoods frequently require architectural committee approval before removing mature trees; (5) commercial and multi-family site plan approvals may require tree preservation plans as a condition of development. Mississippi §95-5 (timber trespass) imposes triple damages for cutting a neighbor's tree without permission.