North Texas HOA Tree Guidelines: Everything You Need to Know

Date October 21, 2022

Author TreeNewal Staff

North Texas is a beautiful place to live, but it comes with its own set of rules and regulations. If you’re a Dallas homeowner, you should know your HOA tree guidelines. Many HOAs restrict the type of trees that can be planted on your property, what kind of landscaping is allowed, and even how many trees you can remove from your yard. If you don’t adhere to these rules, you could end up paying a hefty fine. In this blog post, we’ll discuss common North Texas HOA tree guidelines and why they’re in place.
TreeNewal is a full-service sustainable tree care company offering residential and commercial tree services in Dallas, Argyle, Denton, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Southlake, and Westlake. Contact our Dallas tree care specialists at (817) 592-6846 and enjoy tailored tree care advice and the best tree health services in North Texas!

Why Are There North Texas HOA Landscaping Guidelines?

While all communities, even within North Texas, can be different, the common reasons why HOAs restrict the planting of specific types of trees are:

Certain trees can grow too large for the allotted space – homeowners often underestimate the mature size of a tree when planting. It’s not uncommon for HOAs to require small-growth trees since this prevents residents from planting trees that will outgrow their property.

Trees can risk the safety of the community – this goes hand in hand with the first reason. Trees with overhanging branches can snap during storms and strong winds, damaging cars, utility lines, and passersby. If the tree outgrows its space, towering over or obscuring houses, it can significantly risk the safety of the community.

Some trees and landscapes require additional maintenance – if your HOA maintains your lawn and performs tasks like mowing, tree trimming, and surface cleaning, they may require low-maintenance trees. It’s also common to restrict the planting of fruit trees or trees that produce an abundance of acorns and seeds in front yards to reduce littering and mucking up equipment.

Trees can become liabilities – certain North Texas trees have invasive root systems that can be hydrophilic, disrupting underground plumbinglines. These include willows, silver maples, mulberry trees, and more. While these species may not be restricted in your community, they are known for having aggressive root systems that can damage underground utilities and concrete structures like pathways and driveways. While tree statutes govern who is responsible, many HOAs may aim to reduce the risk of liability and the potential for property damages.

Dallas Residential Tree Care Requirements

While there are many regulations for which trees you can plant and where, homeowners are still responsible for keeping their trees and landscape in good shape. Some HOA tree care requirements include:

Tree trimming and pruning – tree trimming and pruning are necessary for tree health and impact curb appeal and controls growth. Communities with high aesthetic standards will not allow your trees to go untrimmed. It’s always best to leave tree trimming and pruning to a Dallas tree care specialist. TreeNewal tree surgeons can expertly trim your tree to an appealing shape and ensure it gets the maximum health benefits from the process.

Maintain tree health – trees are vital for every community, so you should always keep them healthy through professional tree care services. HOAs can require you to remove your trees if they are unmaintained, diseased, or infested with tree pests. This results in a loss of your initial investment and additional costs incurred for tree removal.

Receives tree care services – tree care is essential year-round, but especially for newly planted or transplanted trees. Trees are vulnerable in this state, requiring special attention and consideration until they become fully established. Failure to do so can cause them to die and have to be removed and replaced per city and HOA lawn maintenance guidelines.

HOA Rules on Tree Removal

The city of Dallas has regulations that dictate which trees are protected and cannot be removed without approval. Protected trees include Eastern red cedar and mesquite trees with a caliper of eight inches or more. Unapproved removal of protected trees means you’ll have to replace them with a suitable species. Specific guidelines are in place by the city and HOA as part of the tree preservation ordinance.
If you’re building a new lot or having construction done on your property, you can have an ISA Certified Arborist conduct tree surveys to help determine which trees can be removed or protected. After the assessment, the Certified Arborist can help mitigate your fees paid to the city. For a complete list of approved replacement trees, check out this document released by Dallas City Hall.

Removing a tree without approval can be extremely costly. All of this can be averted if you consult your local HOA official before making major landscaping changes, planting new trees, and removing them. Additionally, schedule a consultation with a TreeNewal ISA Certified Arborist before planting or removing trees on your property. They have extensive knowledge of the local environment, stress factors, and which trees will thrive in your location. We’ll help you set yourself and your tree up for success and reduce the chance of having to deal with pesky HOA disputes.

TreeNewal is Here to Help

While all of this can be overwhelming, remember that as a member of your community, you have a voice. You can work with your city or HOA officials and petition against practices that harm tree health.
When it comes to keeping your trees in great shape, it’s simple when you have a reputable tree service company like TreeNewal on your side. Our ISA Certified Arborists can help keep your trees healthy, strong, and resistant to pests and diseases through our tree maintenance and protection plan. We’ll perform professional tree trimming and pruning services, along with tree nutrition, soil conditioning, and more, to protect your investment and keep your yard looking beautiful. Call (817) 592-6846 today to learn more!

 

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