Here in Austin, we speak for the trees.
There are 33+ million trees within city limits and many have become famous — like Flo at Barton Springs Pool (which was cut down as a safety precaution in 2023) and the Pecan at Zilker Park.
However, local trees don’t need to be famous to be recognized with the City of Austin’s Heritage Tree Ordinance, which has protected trees on public and private property since 2010.
What’s a Heritage tree?
The City of Austin breaks trees down into three classifications: 8- to 18-inch diameter, Protected Trees, and Heritage Trees. Trees of all three levels require a permit to remove them from both public and private property.
- 19" in diameter and larger are Protected Trees.
- Pecans, Bald Cypress, Eastern Black Walnut, American Cedar Elm, and Oaks 24" in diameter and larger are Heritage Trees.
- All other species 30" in diameter and larger are Heritage Trees.
Some Heritage Trees may be marked with plaques nearby to signify their status, but not all of them. Get to know the trees in your area with this interactive map.
Why does Austin protect trees?
Austin’s urban forest has cleaned the city of up to 1.9 million tons of carbon. Not only that, they’re valued at $12.3 billion and provide $38 million worth of services, including:
- Reducing water runoff during storms
- Alleviating pollution that in turn reduces healthcare costs
- Lowering energy costs + providing shade
Austin’s penchant for protecting trees actually goes back even further. The Capital City became one of the first cities in the US to pass a tree protection ordinance back in 1983. The movement was spearheaded by Margret Hofmann (aka the “Tree Lady”), who compared protecting historical trees to protecting historical buildings. Protecting the city’s “oldest citizens” was so important to her that she created Austin’s first tree registry in 1976.
Ready to hug a tree?
Click here to learn about tree maintenance, discover more facts about Austin’s urban forest, get involved in sustainability practices, and more.
