General Provisions.

Austin City Code tit. 6, ch. 6-3, art. 4, div. 1

in effect

Austin City Code § 6-3-61 DUTY TO PROTECT PUBLIC TREE.

§ 6-3-61 - DUTY TO PROTECT PUBLIC TREE. (A) Except as provided in Section 6-3-77 (Exceptions to Requirement for Administrative Approval) a person on public property may not: (1) damage, top, cut, carve, transplant, or remove a public tree; (2) allow a harmful substance to contact a public tree; (3) set fire to a tree or permit a fire to burn that could injure a public tree; or (4) place or store impervious cover or material that impedes the passage of water, air, or nutrients to the roots of a public tree. (B) Except as provided by ordinance or rule, a person who excavates or performs construction on public property shall surround each public tree in the work area with a fence built at least four feet tall and at least two feet distant from the perimeter of the tree trunk. A person may not allow building material, dirt, or other debris to accumulate inside the fence. Source: 1992 Code Section 15-10-7; Ord. 031023-10; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 6-3-62 RESTRICTION ON LOCATION OF TREE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

§ 6-3-62 - RESTRICTION ON LOCATION OF TREE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. A person may not plant a tree on public property within: (1) 10 lateral feet of an overhead utility line if the tree may reach a height of 20 feet; or (2) five lateral feet of an underground utility line. Source: 1992 Code Section 15-10-6(B); Ord. 031023-10; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 6-3-63 LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO A PUBLIC TREE.

§ 6-3-63 - LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO A PUBLIC TREE. (A) A person who damages a public tree is liable to the City for the loss of tree value. (B) If the damage to a public tree results in treatment or removal of the tree, a person who damages the tree is liable for the cost of treatment or removal. (C) The urban forester may determine the tree value of a public tree and assess the cost against the person who caused the damage. (D) As prescribed by Section 6-3-91 (Appeal of Action of Urban Forester), a person may appeal the urban forester's determination of the tree value to the board. (E) The damages authorized by this section are cumulative of other remedies available to the City. (F) The urban forester shall deposit damages recovered under this section to the Planting for the Future Trust in Agency Fund to plant public trees. Source: 1992 Code Section 15-10-8; Ord. 031023-10; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 6-3-64 TREE USE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

§ 6-3-64 - TREE USE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. (A) The city manager shall: (1) dedicate one percent of actual construction cost of a new roadway or capacity expansion project that increases the total lane miles in the city's road system to plant trees; and (2) create an additional fund to tend trees planted under this section for two years from the date the trees are planted. (B) The city manager may only fund tree use or care from general obligation road project bond proceeds authorized by ordinance. (C) The urban forester shall consult with the city manager on the inclusion of trees in the development, planning, and design of a capital improvement to the city's road system. Source: 1992 Code Section 15-10-9; Ord. 031023-10; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20060504-039.

Austin City Code § 6-3-65 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO PLANT TREES.

§ 6-3-65 - COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO PLANT TREES. Except as prescribed by Chapter 14-11 (Use of Right-of-Way), the urban forester may enter into an agreement with a non-profit organization to allow the organization to plant trees on public property. Source: 1992 Code Section 15-10-5(G); Ord. 031023-10; Ord. 031211-11.

Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6ENCOCO_CH6-3TRVE_ART4PUTR_DIV1GEPRFetched: 10/27/2026