Chapel Hill Tree Protection Standards

The intent of this section is to preserve, maintain, and increase tree canopy to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and enhance the quality of life in Chapel Hill.

Includes the following provisions:
– Zoning compliance permit required for all work impacting trees on non-residential, multi-family residential and mixed use lots, and on single or two-family residences where the work will disturb more than 5,000 square feet
– Tree canopy coverage standards aim to maintain the maximum practical tree canopy cover
– Minimum canopy coverage standards vary from 20%-40% based on land use type
– Can pay to the tree mitigation fund to avoid re-planting canopy trees, the funds of which are used for installing and maintaining trees on public property