Tree removal permit guide — Austin, TX

Austin's ordinance has multiple protection layers:

Protected trees (19+ inches DBH). The general protection threshold. Trees of most species at 19" or more DBH require a permit before removal. The mitigation framework applies — replacement plantings or fee in lieu.

Heritage trees (24+ inches DBH). Additional protection for the largest specimens. Removal of heritage trees requires more substantial justification, higher mitigation requirements, and often involves the City Arborist directly. Mature live oaks, post oaks, bur oaks, pecans, and other large native species frequently qualify.

Protected-species protections (any size). Certain species — native oaks, pecans, Texas mountain laurel, anaqua, and others — are protected at any size in many cases. The species list and specifics evolve with ordinance updates; verify the current list with Austin Development Services.

Critical Environmental Features. Trees within designated CEF zones (riparian corridors, edges of bluffs, certain karst features) have additional protections beyond the standard ordinance. The Hill Country aquifer recharge zone in southwest Austin has stricter overall environmental review.

Right-of-way trees. Trees in the Austin right-of-way are managed by the city. Removal or significant pruning requires a separate permit and process. Right-of-way trees include many street trees, parkway trees, and trees on city utility easements.

New construction and major development. The Tree Protection Plan (TPP) requirement applies to new construction, additions, ADUs, pool installations, driveway expansions, and major site disturbance. The TPP is reviewed as part of the building or site-development permit.

The standard process for removing a protected tree:

Step 1: ISA-certified arborist assessment. An arborist visits the property, identifies each tree by species, measures DBH, and assesses condition. The output is a written tree-by-tree report. For protected trees, this report is required documentation for the permit application.

Step 2: Application submission. The application goes to Austin Development Services under Environmental Resource Management (ERM) tree-protection program. Required components: site plan showing tree locations, arborist report identifying each tree (species, DBH, condition), justification for removal, and proposed mitigation plan.

Step 3: City review. The Austin City Arborist reviews the application. Routine cases (clearly hazardous, smaller protected trees with reasonable justification) typically clear in 2-4 weeks. Heritage trees, healthy large trees, and contested cases can take 4-8 weeks and may require Environmental Commission review.

Step 4: Mitigation plan or fee. Approved permits include mitigation requirements: replacement plantings on-site (with size and species specifications) or fees in lieu paid into the Austin tree fund. The mitigation framework is generally tied to canopy area lost — replacement obligations scale with the size of the removed tree.

Step 5: Permit issuance and removal. Once the permit is issued and mitigation is committed, removal can proceed within the permit window. The contractor posts the permit on-site.

Step 6: Mitigation verification. Replacement plantings are inspected for compliance with the approved plan. Establishment-period maintenance (typically 2-3 years) is the homeowner's responsibility.

Austin's mitigation framework ties replacement obligations to the canopy area being lost. Larger trees and heritage trees produce larger mitigation obligations.

Replacement plantings. The default mitigation. Replacement trees must be species suitable for the Austin climate and capable of growing to substantial size. Native species are preferred (live oak, bur oak, Texas red oak, cedar elm, pecan). Replacement caliper is typically 2-3" minimum at planting. The number of replacement trees is determined by the canopy area calculation — a single 30" DBH heritage tree often requires multiple replacements.

Fees in lieu. Where on-site replacement isn't feasible (small lots, utility conflicts, existing canopy already at maximum), homeowners can pay the calculated mitigation fee. The fee schedule is based on canopy area lost; large heritage trees can carry mitigation fees in the multi-thousand-dollar range.

Hybrid approach. Some permits use partial on-site replacement plus partial fee in lieu when the lot can accommodate some but not all of the required replacement.

Maintenance period. Replacement trees must be maintained through an establishment period (typically 2-3 years). Failed replacements (trees that died or weren't maintained) trigger replanting obligations at the homeowner's expense.

Credits for retained trees. Some permit applications can earn mitigation credit by retaining additional trees beyond what's minimally required, or by upsizing replacement caliper above minimums. The City Arborist can negotiate this in many cases.

Any work requiring a building or site-development permit triggers Tree Protection Plan (TPP) review. The TPP integrates with the broader permit and is reviewed by Austin Development Services.

TPP components: surveyed site plan showing all protected trees; trees marked for "save" or "remove"; protection fencing during construction (typically at the dripline or critical root zone); root-zone protection details; proposed mitigation for any removed trees.

Critical Environmental Features and aquifer recharge zone. Construction in southwest Austin's Hill Country aquifer recharge zone, in CEF buffers, or on slopes over 15% triggers additional environmental review beyond the standard TPP. These zones often constrain building footprints around protected trees rather than allowing removal.

Common issues:

Late-stage TPP review producing footprint changes. Contractors who don't engage arborists at design phase often submit TPPs that need significant revision after city review. Engage an arborist during initial design.

Root-zone damage from construction. The TPP requires fencing and root-zone protection; contractors who skip this can face stop-work orders, and the trees they were supposed to save may die from undocumented root damage.

Grading and drainage impacts. Even when a tree is "saved" on the plan, grade changes around it can kill it within 2-5 years. Proper TPPs address grading and drainage, not just fencing.

Austin's Tree Preservation Ordinance applies within the city limits. Surrounding jurisdictions have different rules:

Travis County (outside Austin city limits). Travis County has its own tree-protection framework that's generally less strict than the city ordinance. Many county-area homes are NOT subject to the 19" DBH threshold. Verify with Travis County.

Williamson County (north Austin metro — Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander). Different ordinances apply. Most Williamson County jurisdictions don't have residential tree-protection ordinances as strict as Austin's.

Hays County (south Austin metro — Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs). Generally lighter regulation than Austin city.

ETJ (Austin Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction). Some properties outside Austin city limits but within the ETJ have city involvement in development review. The TPP requirement may apply to construction-tied removals in the ETJ; standalone tree removals typically don't require Austin permits in the ETJ.

The practical implication: verify your property's actual jurisdiction before assuming Austin city rules apply. Properties along the Austin city boundary commonly have a mix of city and county rules.