Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
On residential property in Austin, trees under 19 inches in diameter are not regulated and you can remove them without city approval. At 19 inches or more the tree is "Protected" and a permit is required. At 24 inches or more, if it is one of nine listed species, it is a "Heritage" tree and removal is prohibited except under narrow code exceptions.
Size threshold
Protected tree: 19 inches or more in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Heritage tree: 24 inches or more at 4.5 feet, of a listed species. Trees under 19 inches are not regulated on residential property; on commercial and multifamily property the threshold drops to 8 inches.
What's protected in Austin
- Heritage trees 24 inches or larger of these species: Texas Ash, Bald Cypress, American Elm, Texas Madrone, Bigtooth Maple, Pecan, Arizona Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut, and all Oaks
- Protected trees 19 inches or larger, any species
- Any tree 8 inches or larger on commercial or multifamily property, and on development projects requiring a site plan
How to apply in Austin
- 1
Measure the trunk diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground to see which category the tree falls in.
- 2
If the tree is regulated and the removal is not part of a development project, file a Tree Ordinance Review Application (TORA).
- 3
Register on the Austin Build + Connect portal and select "Tree Ordinance Review Application" as the permit type.
- 4
Upload photos of the tree, close-ups of any defects, and a site sketch.
- 5
Submit. After a completeness check, formal Tree Review takes about 10 business days.
- 6
Wait for the permit status to show "Active" — an approved permit is required before removal.
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Ordinance
- Austin City Code § 25-8-621 (Protected tree removal) and § 25-8-641 (Heritage tree removal)
Worth knowing
- Heritage tree removal is prohibited, not merely permitted-with-conditions. The exceptions in § 25-8-641 are narrow.
- For residential development, tree review happens alongside building plan review rather than as a separate application.
- Tree inspections are scheduled at 512-974-9405.
What we could not confirm
We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.
- — Dollar amounts on the Tree Review & Inspection Fee Schedule — Austin publishes it as a PDF we could not read.
- — Penalty amounts for removing a Protected or Heritage tree without approval.