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Tree Service in Dripping Springs, TX

Dripping Springs uses a three-tier system: Standard (8 inches DBH), Legacy (12 inches DBH), and Heritage (24 inches DBH) — and notably, it protects native juniper/mesquite/huisache alongside hardwoods. A tree survey is required for any 8-inch-or-larger protected tree on a development site. Mitigation ratios increase sharply at the Legacy and Heritage tiers. Confirm the current fee and mitigation chart with Dripping Springs Planning before removal.

Tree permits in Dripping Springs

Ordinance
Dripping Springs Article 28.06 (Landscaping & Tree Preservation)
Permit required at
8 inches DBH
Heritage tree at
24 inches DBH
If a protected tree comes down
Mitigation required for protected tree removal with ratios scaling by tier (Standard / Legacy / Heritage).
Protected species
Hardwoods (Heritage/Legacy/Standard tiers), Ashe Juniper, Huisache, Mesquite
Code citation
Dripping Springs Code of Ordinances Article 28.06
Last amended
2023 (Tree Preservation Chart revision)

Who issues the permit: Dripping Springs Planning Department — 512-858-4725

Ordinance details verified 2026-04-20 against the sources below. Confirm current rules with Dripping Springs before removal.

Some of Dripping Springs’s ordinance detail is still open against the city’s own code and is not published here. Dripping Springs can confirm the current rule for your property, and so can we.

Tree services we provide in Dripping Springs

Compare tree rules city by city, including Austin’s ETJ tiers

Other Hays County cities we serve

Austin Tree Experts service areaA simplified map of Central Texas showing 10 county outlines with Interstate 35 running north to south through them. Grey shapes are incorporated cities and towns, most of them clustered around Austin. Five places are labelled for reference: Austin at the centre, Georgetown to the north, Bastrop to the east, San Marcos to the south and Fredericksburg to the west. Two green zones sit over the map: a core service area around Austin and a wider surrounding area we also cover. Dripping Springs is outlined inside them. All boundaries are approximate.
Roughly where we work. The edge is approximate — if you are near it, just ask.

Tree permits in Dripping Springs — common questions

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Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Dripping Springs?

Three-tier protection: 8” Standard / 12” Legacy / 24” Heritage. Protects hardwoods AND Ashe juniper/mesquite/huisache.

Which trees are protected in Dripping Springs?

Hardwoods (Heritage/Legacy/Standard tiers), Ashe Juniper, Huisache, Mesquite

What does Dripping Springs require when a protected tree is removed?

Mitigation required for protected tree removal with ratios scaling by tier (Standard / Legacy / Heritage).

Who issues tree permits in Dripping Springs?

Dripping Springs Planning Department — 512-858-4725

Which code governs tree removal in Dripping Springs?

Dripping Springs Code of Ordinances Article 28.06

Sources