Do You Need a Permit to Cut Down a Tree in Fort Worth, TX?

The moment greenery starts requiring more and more maintenance, or grows dangerously close to your property, you stop researching tree care and start wondering, “Do you need a permit to cut down a tree?”

Alvarado Tree Trimming and Care has more than a decade of experience helping North Texas residents remove hazardous, high-maintenance, or diseased greenery from their property. Meaning, we know everything about the local requirements for removal, and we share all that in this quick-read guide. Continue scrolling to stay compliant!

Main Points to Remember

If you’re asking yourself, “Can I chop down a tree on my property?” but don’t have the time to sit back and read everything right now, here are the most important points you must remember:

• One dead, diseased, or hazardous tree on a single-family lot of less than one acre may be removed without paperwork.
• Any removal tied to construction (or that wipes out more than 75% of the existing canopy) automatically triggers an Urban Forestry review.
• Significant trees (27-inch DBH, or 18-inch post and blackjack oaks east of I-35W) and all Heritage trees always require city approval.
• Cutting first and asking later can halt every permit on your property until hefty penalties are paid.

Tree Removal Regulations for Private Properties

1. No Permit Required

Fort Worth has strict tree-protection ordinances for good reason (achieving 30% canopy coverage by 2050). But even then, many situations do not warrant a tree-cutting permit. Those are as follows:

• Under one acre, single-family homes: Single-family homeowners on lots smaller than one acre may take down one dead, dying, diseased, or hazardous tree per year without notifying the city.
  
• Tree blocking a road, right-of-way, or traffic: Report the situation to Fort Worth’s Forestry Section for Hazards line at (817) 392-5738.
  
• Public tree fallen on private property: Contact Fort Worth’s Forestry Section at (817) 392-5738 to have the tree cleared up to the property line. Property owners are responsible for removing the part that lands on their side of the fence.

If you need quick help removing greenery on your lot that falls under any of these, please do not hesitate to request our tree emergency services. We’ll dispatch a professional team as soon as possible.

2. Urban Forestry Permit Required

According to our local tree ordinances, you will need an Urban Forestry Permit in the following cases:

• If your parcel is larger than one acre.
• If your property hosts multiple units.
• If the removal is part of a building or grading permit.
• If it’s a Significant Tree (18-inch post and blackjack oaks, for example).
• If it’s a Heritage Tree (let’s say, it is unusual in size, age, or species).
• If the tree’s DBH (diameter at breast height) is 6 inches or greater, regardless of the species.
• If more than 75% of the tree canopy on the site will be removed.

3. City of Fort Worth Tree Removal Permit Required

What if your tree doesn’t fall into any of those situations? Do you need permission still? The answer is: yes. You may need a City of Fort Worth Tree Removal Permit if a single tree fits the following:

• Removals that don’t exceed 75% canopy loss.
• Located on bordering city property (i.e., a street tree) that affects private property or is hazardous, dead, or dying.
• Located on neighboring city property and is infested with insects or diseased, posing a threat to the nearby landscape.

Trees Protected by Fort Worth

Fort Worth protects 47 species, from sprawling live oaks in Tanglewood to towering elms in Arlington Heights. Any tree 27 inches or larger at breast height is “significant,” while post oak and blackjack oak qualify at 18 inches east of I-35W.

Heritage trees (as we mentioned, those with exceptional size, age, or historical value) receive the strictest safeguards and are almost never approved for removal unless public safety is at stake.

How to Apply for a Permit

The city reviews each and every submission in detail. Therefore, to avoid any delays and maximize your luck in getting the green light, here is the process we recommend you follow:

1. Download the application for a City of Fort Worth Tree Removal Permit.
2. Attach a scaled map marking every tree on the site.
3. Provide color photos showing the tree’s condition and proximity to structures.
4. List accurate DBH measurements and species ID.
5. Include the reason for the request, whether that is a disease or a construction project.
6. If possible, add an ISA-Certified Arborist’s assessment backing your claims, especially for significant trees.
7. Submit the packet by email!

Frequently Asked Questions