Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
Edmond is the one city in this file with a genuine Tree Removal Permit, created by Ord. 3820 on March 8, 2021, and it is aimed at raw land, not at houses. Section 8.16.100.C prohibits tree removal "upon any un-platted area" and on land zoned Nonresidential, Special Purpose or PUD without a permit. The permit costs zero dollars. The exemptions are what most residents need: removal on land inside a recorded plat, on parcels under five acres, within 20 feet of an existing structure, or of trunks under three inches all need nothing. The City puts it plainly: "These changes do not impact Edmond residents within existing subdivisions or on lots less than five acres."
Size threshold
Three inches, measured the standard way. Section 8.16.100.C.1.j exempts "The removal of trees with a trunk diameter less than 3 inches as measured at a height of 4.5 feet from base of tree, at grade level." The other numeric triggers are area-based, not diameter-based: parcels under five acres are exempt; a removal that "cumulative with any previously permitted tree removal, equals less than 25 percent of the existing tree canopy shall be approved"; and on new plats, subdivision Section 21.02.170.B.2 requires Tree Preservation Area "greater than or equal to 20 percent of the area being platted, or 80 percent of the initial Tree Canopy Area, whichever is less."
What's protected in Edmond
- Trees on un-platted land, and on land zoned Nonresidential, Special Purpose or PUD. Section 8.16.100.C: "Tree Removal or damaging of trees upon any un-platted area is prohibited prior to obtaining a tree removal permit... Tree Removal or damaging of trees upon land zoned as any Nonresidential, Special Purpose, or PUD district, as identified in 22.4.1(E), is prohibited without a tree removal permit."
- Anything inside a designated Tree Preservation Area. Section 8.16.100.C.2.a: "Tree removal within any Tree Preservation Area(s) provided to meet the requirements of 21.02.170 - Tree Preservation Required or 21.03.112 - Tree Protection Required, is prohibited." The same prohibition applies to preservation areas shown on an approved Site Plan or PUD master plan.
- Trees on City-owned or managed property. Section 8.16.100.B: "Unauthorized cutting or gathering of trees or parts of trees and/or the removal of wood or foliage, grass, turf, humus, shrubs, vines, cones, or deadwood from City-owned or managed property is prohibited."
- Trees on new plats, through the subdivision title. Section 21.02.170 requires a Forest Area Plan delineating the Tree Canopy Area and setting aside Tree Preservation Area, aimed at "the Cross Timbers ecotype... characterized by blackjack oak-post oak forest." Developments under five acres and developments in the Central Edmond Urban District are exempt.
How to apply in Edmond
- 1
Section 8.16.100.C.3.a: the application must include the applicant's name and contact information, proof of ownership for all property from which trees are to be removed, and the signed consent of the land owner(s).
- 2
Attach "a current scaled aerial photo of the subject property indicating all trees to be removed and all areas on which trees will be preserved." The code adds: "Scaled aerial photos are available from the City."
- 3
Complete and submit the Tree Removal Permit form. There is no fee.
- 4
The City Manager's designee reviews and approves or denies. Section 8.16.100.C.2 makes approval automatic in four situations - platted property outside Nonresidential, Special Purpose or F/SD zoning; property with an approved Site Plan; property with an approved PUD; and removal that keeps cumulative loss under 25 percent of existing canopy - and directs denial for everything else absent a variance.
- 5
To appeal a denial, file a written notice of appeal with the City within ten days of receiving the denial, specifying the material facts. The Urban Forestry Commission must hear it within 45 days of filing and may grant a variance for "unique and exceptional physical circumstance or condition of a particular property."
- 6
Section 8.16.100.C.3.e: the permit expires 12 months after issuance, and immediately on any zoning change or transfer of all or part ownership of the property.
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Fee
- Section 8.16.100.C.3.f: "The fee for making application for a Tree Removal Permit shall be zero dollars ($0.00)."
- Penalties
- Section 8.16.100.C.4.e: "Any person, or legal entity violating the requirements of this article shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each and every violation. Each five hundred (500) square foot of tree canopy removed in violation shall constitute a separate offense. Evidence of tree removal may include, but is not limited to, aerial photography or other data maintained by the City." Section 8.16.100.C.4.d creates a prima facie presumption that the owner of record committed the violation. Section 8.16.100.C.4.c lets the City revoke the permit and issue a Stop Work Order that can halt "all construction activity on buildings or structures and all appurtenances, including building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and street work, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, gas lines, and all utilities including gas, electric, telephone, and cable TV."
- Ordinance
- Edmond Code Section 8.16.100 (Tree Removal, Cutting Trees or Foliage), in Title 8 (Offenses and Nuisances), Chapter 8.16 (Property). Derived from Ord. 2082, January 1994 and rewritten by Ord. 3820, Section 1, March 8, 2021. The companion subdivision provisions are Section 21.02.170 (Tree Preservation Required), Section 21.03.113 (Tree Protection) and Section 21.03.114 (Tree Planting) in Title 21, added by Ord. 3819, Section 4, March 8, 2021. Section 21.03.113.A.3 adopts "the most recently published edition of The Edmond Tree & Landscape Guide" and "ANSI A300 (Part 5)" by reference. Code codified through Ordinance No. 4046, enacted July 27, 2025 (Supp. No. 39).
Worth knowing
- The full exemption list at Section 8.16.100.C.1 is the part worth reading twice. No permit is needed for removal on land within any plat recorded with Oklahoma County; on parcels less than five acres; within 20 feet of any existing structure or improvement; that results in no loss of tree canopy; for emergency response "necessary for the preservation of life, health, or property"; to maintain or repair a public street, alley, utility, drainage easement or service line; of trees Urban Forestry staff deem dead, diseased or high-risk; of eastern red cedar or invasive non-native species; of nursery stock by a state-licensed grower; or of trunks under three inches at 4.5 feet.
- The City says the same thing in plain English on its own website: "These changes do not impact Edmond residents within existing subdivisions or on lots less than five acres." The 2021 rules govern tree removal and planting during the design phase of new neighborhoods.
- Timing matters on new development. Section 21.03.113.A.1: "Tree removal must not commence until a preliminary plat has been approved by Planning Commission, and City Council as applicable, or a tree removal permit, as identified in 8.16.100, has been obtained." Section 21.03.113.A.4 prohibits land grading until tree protection areas are established.
- Eastern redcedar is written out of the credit system twice. Section 21.02.170.B.1 lets "Significant, monocultural stands of eastern redcedar" be excluded from the Tree Canopy Area, and B.4 bars preservation credit for stands of eastern redcedar, Bradford pear "or of tree species not native to North America."
- Edmond's landscape code also caps crown reduction on trees it protects. Title 22 Section 6 provides that "Not more than 25 percent of a tree's crown shall be removed within an annual growing season."
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.
- — Whether the Oklahoma County plat exemption leaves Logan County parcels differently situated. Section 8.16.100.C.1.a exempts "Tree removal occurring upon land within any plat recorded with Oklahoma County" and names no other county, and Edmond's city limits extend north of the Oklahoma County line. The text is reported as written rather than interpreted.
- — The Tree Removal Permit form itself and where it is filed. The code names it but no form URL was located.
- — The Urban Forestry Commission's membership, meeting schedule and direct contact.
- — Whether Edmond regulates trees in the right-of-way separately. Title 14 (Streets and Sidewalks) mentions trees only in passing at Section 14.12.040 and Section 14.16.030.
- — Whether Edmond licenses or registers tree services. Title 4 (Business Licenses and Regulations) was not read for this entry.