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Jefferson County, KY Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions

Verified 1 month ago|Source: TreesLouisville →

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Key Facts

Ratio: 2:1 caliper-inch typical
Minimum Size: 2-inch caliper planting
Species: Metro approved list natives
Establishment: 2-year survival period
Alternative: Fee-in-lieu urban forestry fund

City-specific rules exist: Louisville has its own tree replacement requirements rules that differ from Jefferson County's county-level regulations. If you live in Louisville, check the city-specific page instead.

Summary

Louisville Metro LDC §10 requires tree replacement for landscape-required trees removed during development. Replacement uses caliper-inch ratios, typically 2:1, with approved species from the Metro tree list.

Full Breakdown

Louisville Metro LDC §10.4 establishes tree replacement standards. When trees required under an approved landscape plan or Tree Preservation Area must be removed, replacement is calculated by caliper-inch ratio - typically the removed tree's DBH is matched 2:1 in new caliper inches using trees meeting minimum 2-inch caliper at planting. Approved species must come from the Louisville Metro recommended tree list emphasizing native species (oak, hickory, maple, tulip poplar, hackberry) and climate-adapted cultivars. Replacements must be planted on the same site unless space constraints allow a fee-in-lieu contribution to Louisville Metro's urban forestry fund. Plants must survive a 2-year establishment period; dead replacements within this window must be replanted. Street tree replacements follow Metro Public Works standards under LMCO Ch. 97. TreesLouisville's 2015 Tree Canopy Assessment informs replacement strategy.

Violations & Fines

Failure to replace required trees: $100-$1,000 per LDC §11, permit revocation, or Certificate of Occupancy withheld. Fee-in-lieu non-payment: lien on property. Dead replacements within establishment period must be replanted at owner expense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tree species are approved?

Louisville Metro recommends native and adapted species: oak (white, red, bur), sugar maple, tulip poplar, river birch, hackberry, baldcypress, and Kentucky coffeetree. Avoid callery pear (invasive), ash (EAB), and Bradford pear.

Does replacement apply to my backyard tree?

Generally no, if you are a single-family homeowner removing a tree not required by landscape plan or buffer yard. Replacement applies to landscape-required trees, buffer yard trees, and street trees managed by Metro Public Works.

How does Jefferson County compare?

See how Jefferson County's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.

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Jefferson County, KY Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Key Facts

Summary

Full Breakdown

Violations & Fines

Frequently Asked Questions

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