Arlington, VA: Tree Preservation Ordinance
Policy Title: Arlington Tree Preservation Ordinance
Year Adopted: November 2002
City: Arlington County, VA
Main Citation: Complete Trees & Shrubs Ordinance
Description:
In 2002, the Arlington County Tree Preservation Ordinance was approved with the purpose of maintaining and improving the County’s tree canopy, to protect the safety and welfare of the County citizens and safeguard the valuable ecological and aesthetic benefits of trees. The Ordinance functions to protect trees on County property, including streets, public rights-of-way, and public access easements under direction of the County Manager.
Importantly, it also establishes a mechanism for designating trees for protection on private and public property. These designations include Heritage, Memorial, Specimen, and Street Trees. Any person can recommend a tree to be designated by submitting a report to the Urban Forester, arborist, or County Manager describing the tree and its significance. Applications are due each year on September 30th, requiring supporting documents and photographs to demonstrate the necessary criteria.
After designation, these trees are protected from removal or injury, unless there is an overriding need for public improvements or a severe hardship that prevents reasonable use of a property. Should such action be permitted, the County Board must additionally detail the justification of the action and the tree's location. The Board may also require that the tree be replaced with a similar tree or others to make up for canopy lost.
Since the approval of this Ordinance, data has revealed a modest yet consistent increase in the County’s tree canopy, from 31.7% in 2014 to 35.2% in 2023. Despite some tree losses, this number has been offset by these conservation and additional planting efforts.
Impact:
Tree Canopy Study Shows Modest Gains
Parks in the County saw particularly large growth, with canopy coverage increasing in 59 to 65%, showing the benefits of this policy. Growth was additionally seen in public and private land and right-of-way areas. However, the largest contributor to tree canopy growth is the shift of grass and other vegetation to tree canopy, rather than tree preservation.
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