Do You Need a Tree Removal Permit in Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill
Here are clear rules for typical single-family homes in the Triangle. Each section links to the official page for that city.
Raleigh
Work on or near a City Tree needs a Tree Impact Permit. This covers pruning, removal, trenching, boring, staging, and other activity in the critical root zone of any tree on City property or in the right-of-way. The City defines the critical root zone by trunk diameter and sets it as a protected area around the tree.
Some private lots include recorded Tree Conservation Areas from past development. Those mapped areas must stay undisturbed. The UDO sets the conservation rules and minimum set-asides by zoning district.
Durham
The Urban Forestry Division manages trees on City property and in City rights-of-way. They do not work on private trees. For a typical house outside a development case and outside a local historic district, the City does not require a permit for routine removal of a private tree. Street trees and development sites still follow the UDO.
Homes inside a local historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for exterior changes that affect the district’s look. Tree removal can fall under that review.
Chapel Hill
The Town protects Town Trees and regulates tree canopy during development review under the Land Use Management Ordinance. The Town’s 2010 update removed the old blanket rule that once required a permit for all private trees 36 inches DBH or larger. Most single-family removals outside development review are not a Town tree-removal permit case, but Town and street trees remain protected.
Property inside a Local Historic District needs a COA for exterior changes. That review can include tree work.
Always call 811 before stump grinding or digging
Call NC 811 three full working days before you grind a stump or dig. As of October 1, 2025, a locate ticket lasts 28 calendar days from the legal start date. Update the ticket on time if work continues. North Carolina 811
Quick checklist
- Is the tree in the right-of-way or on City/Town land? Get a permit first. Raleigh NC
- Are you in a local historic district? Check COA rules. Durham NC+1
- Is the work tied to a development case? Follow the UDO or LUMO canopy standards. Raleigh UDO+1
- Grinding a stump or digging? Call 811 three working days ahead. North Carolina 811
Contact us now
Not sure which rule fits your address? Call (336) 525-1209 or use our contact form. Share your address and a few photos. We will confirm the rules and set a plan.
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