Charlottesville, Virginia
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Charlottesville
Charlottesville's development code requires a tree removal permit before taking down any tree 8 inches or more in diameter on regulated projects, and sets minimum canopy cover by zoning district. A separate Tree Conservation Ordinance protects individually designated heritage, specimen, memorial and street trees.
- County
- Independent city (surrounded by Albemarle County)
- Tree rules
- Charlottesville Development Code tree regulations; Tree Conservation Ordinance (City Code Chapter 18)
- Key local rule
- Tree removal permit for trees 8 inches DBH and up; canopy minimums by zone
- Electric utility
- Dominion Energy
- Main hazards
- Summer storms and derechos, ice and heavy snow, old oaks and tulip poplars
When does Charlottesville require a tree permit?
Under the city's tree regulations, a tree removal permit is needed before removing any tree 8 inches or more in diameter at breast height on projects the development code covers. Trees formally designated under the Tree Conservation Ordinance, as heritage, specimen, memorial or street trees, are protected from removal no matter the project.
- 8 inches and up
- Tree removal permit on regulated projects.
- Designated trees
- Protected under the conservation ordinance.
- Street trees
- Managed by the city.
Central Virginia warning signs
Ash thinning
Emerald ash borer is established in the region.
Oaks with bacterial leaf scorch
Brown leaf edges and slow decline.
Tulip poplars with dead upper limbs
Heavy wood that drops in storms.
Trees on slopes after heavy rain
Saturated clay lets roots slip.
The Tree Conservation Ordinance
Adopted in 2013 under Chapter 18 of the City Code, the Tree Conservation Ordinance regulates preservation and removal of heritage, specimen, memorial and street trees. Owners, or the city's Tree Commission, can nominate a tree for protection, and designated trees cannot be removed without approval.
For development, the tree regulations ask for a Tree Protection Plan that keeps existing trees, especially those 8 inches and larger, and reward preservation with extra canopy credit.
Hills, campus trees and old neighborhoods
Charlottesville sits in the Piedmont foothills of the Blue Ridge, with steep lots, red clay soils and a canopy of oaks, tulip poplars, hickories and maples. The University of Virginia grounds and neighborhoods like Belmont, Fry's Spring and the Rugby Road area hold many large old trees close to houses.
Clay soils compact easily and drain slowly, so construction near trees causes long-term decline. That is one reason the city rewards keeping trees during development.
Emerald ash borer arrived in Central Virginia in the 2010s, and many ash on city streets and in yards have been removed. The city has replaced them with a broader mix of species to avoid losing so much canopy to a single pest again.
The June 2012 derecho and repeated heavy snowstorms have taken down large trees across the city.
Canopy cover targets by zoning
Projects must meet a minimum canopy cover, calculated 10 years after planting.
| District | Minimum canopy cover |
|---|---|
| Residential districts | 20 percent |
| Mixed-use and downtown districts | 10 percent |
| Industrial | 10 percent |
| Special districts | 15 percent |
Preserving an existing tree of 8 inches or more counts as 1.5 times its dripline area toward the requirement.
Before removing a large tree
Check designation
Is it a protected heritage, specimen, memorial or street tree?
Check the project
Development code permits apply to regulated work.
Measure
Diameter at breast height.
Apply
Through Neighborhood Development Services.
Protect what stays
Fence the root zone of trees being kept, and keep machines and materials out of it.
Charlottesville tree questions
Does Albemarle County follow the same rules?
No. Charlottesville is an independent city. Albemarle County has its own rules.
Can I nominate my tree for protection?
Yes. Owners and the Tree Commission can nominate trees under the Tree Conservation Ordinance.
Who takes care of street trees?
The city's Parks and Recreation urban forestry staff.
Do I need a permit for a dead tree?
Contact Neighborhood Development Services. Hazard and dead trees are handled through the city's process.
How is diameter at breast height measured?
With a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground, divided by about 3.14. Arborists use a diameter tape that reads directly in inches.
What species does the city recommend planting?
Native oaks, black gum, tulip poplar where there is room, and smaller natives such as redbud and serviceberry under lines. The city publishes planting guidance for street trees.
Reach a tree service in Charlottesville
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Charlottesville area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day