Tree Preservation Ordinance

The City of Fayetteville Tree Preservation and Protection (Chapter 167) preserves and protects trees and natural areas. It is based on the fundamental precepts of sound urban forest management. These precepts seek to establish a diversification of species, with a mix of young, medium aged, and mature trees.

Proposed development projects are evaluated on a case-by-case (and tree-by-tree) basis. The goal of each review is to assure that, through a combination of preservation and re-forestation, a final product is achieved which results in a diverse and sustainable urban forest.
Horizontal planking on ground outside of construction site
Orange plastic fence marks off tree preservation area

Review Process


The review process entails evaluating the existing tree resources on a site, understanding the dynamics of trees and development impacts, and negotiating a solution that results in a development with a balanced mixture of age classes of trees and a diversification of species of the highest priority to be preserved.

The City of Fayetteville ordinance places a great emphasis on tree preservation. Trees on sites that measure greater than 3 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) are evaluated for preservation potential and are considered “protected trees” until a permit is issued for their removal. Small species trees equal to or over 8 inch DBH, medium growing trees equal to or over 18 inches DBH and fast growing trees equal to or over 24 inches DBH are considered significant trees and receive enhanced preservation evaluation.

Chapter 167


This ordinance applies to the following types of construction projects:
  • Single family residential in the Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District (HHOD)
  • Grading permits in the Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District
  • All Large Scale Developments (LSD) and Site Improvement
  • Projects (SIP)
  • All Preliminary/Concurrent Plats and Planned Zoning Districts (PZD)
  • Commercial building permits where exterior modifications to the structure or grounds will take place
  • Parking lots over five spaces
LSD, SIP, Plat and PZD projects may include but are not limited to: residential subdivisions, industrial or commercial subdivisions, multi-family dwellings, industrial or commercial parcels and mixed-use developments.

Tree Preservation & Protection Documents

  1. Landscape Manual
  2. Tree Preservation Notes (PDF)
  3. Significant Trees (PDF)
  4. Tree Preservation Waiver Form (PDF)