Do you need a permit?
No permit required for most private trees
In Lynchburg the tree permit is for public trees. City Code Section 38-38 says no person shall cut and remove or prune any tree growing in the public right-of-way without first obtaining a permit from the urban forester. If the tree is in your own yard and not on public property, the Urban Forester will not make a trip out — the city tells you to consult a certified arborist.
What's protected in Lynchburg
- Any tree growing in the public right-of-way
- Trees on other public property, including city parks
How to apply in Lynchburg
- 1
Confirm the tree is in the public right-of-way — the city suggests contacting the Urban Forester first so the tree and location are identified correctly.
- 2
Complete the Tree Work Permit, either the online fillable form or the PDF.
- 3
Email the completed PDF to the Urban Forester at Nicholas.Meyer@lynchburgva.gov.
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Ordinance
- Lynchburg City Code Chapter 38 — Trees and Vegetation; permit requirement at Section 38-38
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.
- — The permit fee, if any, and how long review takes.
- — The penalty for cutting or pruning a right-of-way tree without a permit.
- — Whether Lynchburg protects any tree on private property through its zoning, subdivision or landscaping rules.