How to apply for a tree removal permit in Raleigh, North Carolina

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Raleigh's tree-protection ordinance. For the underlying DBH thresholds, protected-species list, and full fee schedule, see the city ordinance page.

Expected processing time: 3-6 weeks for TCA or Tree Impact Permit review as part of development submittal. Plan removal timing accordingly — emergency-tree provisions may differ.

  1. 1

    Determine if your tree is regulated

    Trees at or above 10" DBH (diameter at breast height) are regulated. Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) §9.1 Tree Conservation requires Tree Conservation Areas (TCA) on most residential lots ≥2 acres and on all non-residential development sites. Protected trees ≥10 inches DBH identified inside TCAs must be preserved unless removal is approved through site plan review. Champion and heritage trees (≥30 inch DBH for most species, lower for designated species) receive enhanced protection. Historic Overlay District (HOD) overlays add additional tree preservation requirements for regulated properties. Heritage / landmark designation: Champion trees and heritage trees identified by the City Arborist or maintained on the city's heritage-tree registry receive enhanced review; removal requires demonstrated hardship, hazard, or approved site plan with enhanced mitigation. Historic Overlay District Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) required for tree removal on regulated properties.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Eligible applicants in Raleigh: Property owner, authorized agent, or licensed tree service; TCA plans typically prepared by a registered landscape architect or ISA Certified Arborist.

  3. 3

    Prepare your assessment report

    Your assessment report must include: Tree survey with species, DBH, location, condition, and disposition; Tree Conservation Area plan; replacement/mitigation plan; arborist report for champion or heritage trees. Required certifications: ISA Certified Arborist; tree inventory and TCA plans prepared by Certified Arborist or registered landscape architect.

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

    Submit your application and assessment report to Raleigh Planning and Development / Urban Forestry. Typical processing time: 3-6 weeks for TCA or Tree Impact Permit review as part of development submittal. Reference the full ordinance at https://raleighnc.gov/planning/unified-development-ordinance.

    View the full Raleigh ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: Inch-for-inch replacement for standard protected trees; enhanced ratios for champion/heritage trees per UDO §9.1. On-site replacement preferred with approved native canopy species; in-lieu payment to the Raleigh Tree Replacement Fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible.

Where to file

Raleigh Planning and Development / Urban Forestry

(919) 996-2500

Other North Carolina permit walkthroughs

See North Carolina replacement obligations compared — how Raleigh's replacement ratio ranks against the rest of the state.

See North Carolina heritage criteria compared — how Raleigh's designation rules stack against the rest of the state.

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Raleigh permit?

Capture an ISA TRAQ Level 1, 2, or 3 assessment in the field and export a municipality-ready PDF that fits Raleigh's required report sections. Free, no account required.

Start a TRAQ assessment