Tree Regulations and the HOME Initiative 

The City of Austin Development Services Department (DSD) seeks public input on proposed amendments to regulations related to tree preservation and planting.  

In December 2023, when adopting the HOME Initiative – Phase 1 (Ordinance 20231207-001), the Austin City Council directed the City Manager to provide recommendations related to tree preservation and planting. Specifically, Council sought recommendations to achieve five goals: 

1. Preserve trees or other natural features, and mitigate flood plain areas by allowing for alternative equivalent compliance and administrative modifications for single-family developments that will be developed:  
   • with two or more dwelling units per lot; and  
   • on a lot created by subdividing an existing standard-size single family lot;  
2. Explore gaps in tree planting requirements;  
3. Promote additional tree planting for future development; 
4. Explore opportunities to incentivize protection of non-regulated trees; and  
5. Explore opportunities to incentivize protection of trees in or near setback areas. 

Staff Recommendations

The Community Tree Preservation Division at the Development Services Department (DSD), which comprises the City Arborist and Urban Forestry teams, has developed recommendations to address these items. 

Current recommendations include: 

1. Offer mitigation credits as incentives for preservation of non-regulated trees. 
2. Offer mitigation credits as incentives for increasing species diversity among planted trees.  
3. Add tree planting requirements to all new construction where it is not currently required.  

See the document to the right for more information.

​Public Input Opportunities

This project was open to public feedback from June 24, 2024 to August 9, 2024.

If you have questions, please contact dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov