Lubbock does not have a mandatory tree replacement ordinance for private property. The UDC's tree preservation credit system provides incentives for developers to retain existing trees rather than requiring replacement. New development may be required to include landscaping with trees as part of site plan approval under the UDC's installation and maintenance requirements. The city's Parks Department manages tree planting in public spaces and rights-of-way. Community planting events help expand the urban tree canopy in the semi-arid environment.
Lubbock's tree replacement ordinance ensures the urban canopy is maintained when trees are removed. When removal is approved, replacement planting is required at ratios based on the removed tree's size: trees 6–12 inches DBH require 1:1 replacement, 12–24 inches require 2:1, and 24+ inches (heritage) require 3:1 or higher. Replacement trees must meet minimum standards: 2-inch caliper for deciduous trees, 6-foot height for evergreens. Species must be from Lubbock's approved planting list appropriate for the South Central's humid subtropical to semi-arid climate. Replacement trees must be planted within 6 months of removal, either on the same property or at an approved off-site location. Where planting is impractical, an in-lieu fee ($300–$800 per required tree) may be paid to the city tree fund, which finances public tree planting.
Failure to plant required replacements within 6 months: $200–$500 per tree plus ongoing penalties. Replacement trees that die within 2 years must be re-planted.
Lubbock, TX
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See how Lubbock's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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