Do you need a tree removal permit in Fayetteville, AR?

For some trees. Fayetteville requires a permit for certain trees or certain sites, not every tree. Fayetteville's Tree Preservation Ordinance (City Code Chapter 167) mainly applies to development projects, such as large developments, plats, commercial exterior work, parking lots over five spaces, and single-family homes in the Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District. The city's pages do not say that a homeowner needs a permit to remove a tree from an existing home lot outside that district. If your lot is part of a building, grading or parking project, call the city's Urban Forestry office before removing trees. Our confidence: medium. Short explanation, not legal advice.

On sites covered by the ordinance, trees over 3 inches in trunk diameter (DBH) are evaluated for preservation and count as protected trees until a permit is issued for their removal. Significant trees get extra review: small-species trees at 8 inches DBH or more, medium-growing trees at 18 inches or more, and fast-growing trees at 24 inches or more.

The city's Transportation Department crews maintain street trees, and the property owner next to the right-of-way is expected to maintain that area (the city cites Chapter 167.06 A). The pages we read do not describe a permit for homeowners to prune or remove right-of-way trees, so ask Urban Forestry first.

Contact Urban Forestry (urbanforestry@fayetteville-ar.gov, 479-444-3470). Per the city, projects between 1,201 and 10,000 square feet of impervious area that need building, grading or parking permits must submit an abbreviated tree preservation plan. The Tree Preservation and Landscape Manual has the checklists.

HOA rules can be stricter; check yours. Read your HOA covenants or ask the board before work starts.

Your address, the tree species if you know it, the trunk width measured about 4.5 feet above the ground, photos of the whole tree, and whether it is near the street, a sidewalk or a power line. Ask if a permit is needed and how long it takes.

Some do and some do not. Ask before you sign, and get it in writing who applies and who pays the fee. In many places the property owner is the one responsible for following the rules.

No. It is a short, plain summary of public rules with links to the official sources. For a firm answer on your property, ask the city or a local attorney.

We last checked it on 26 October 2026 against the official sources listed on this page. City rules change, so check the official source or call the city before work starts.

Yes, they can. County rules, state rules for things like wetlands or protected species, and utility rules near power lines can apply on top of city rules. If your property is outside city limits, the county rules usually apply instead. Ask the city or county office.