Protective Barrier Requirements for Existing Trees

If you have land alteration or construction activities on a property, we require you to use protective barriers around trees and natural areas that will remain on the site.

Why do I need barriers?

We require barriers for three main reasons:

1. To protect all above-ground portions of trees and other significant vegetation from mechanical damage
2. To protect root systems from compaction
3. To provide awareness of protected areas to equipment operators

What are the requirements?

• You must keep the barriers in place until you finish the land alteration and construction activities or until you start grade finishing and/or sodding
• You can’t disturb the ground within the barricaded area

Trees

• The canopy dripline, which is the imaginary, vertical line that extends downward from the outermost tips of the tree’s branches to the ground
• Your barrier needs to restrict access within the canopy dripline
• Place a physical structure not less than 3 feet in height, comprised of wood or other suitable material around the tree at the canopy dripline, except where land alteration or construction activities are approved within the canopy dripline
• Barrier specifications – choose one of the following:
  • Four corner upright stakes of no less than 2” x 2” lumber connected by horizontal members of no less than 1” x 4” lumber
  • Upright stakes spaced at 5 foot intervals of no less than 2” x 2” lumber connected by silt screen fabric or material of comparable durability

Natural areas

• You may have some natural areas where the permit we issue restricts land alteration and construction activities
• You must place a physical structure no less than 3 feet in height along the perimeter of these restricted areas
• Barrier specifications:
  • Upright stakes of no less than 2 ”x 2” lumber spaced no more than 25 feet apart and connected by twine flagged with plastic surveying tape at regular intervals of 5 to 10 feet
  • We will consider other barrier methods depending upon the characteristics of the site

Resources

• Barricade specifications with drawing
• Barricade Inspection Affidavit of Compliance - Fillable*
• Barricade Inspection Affidavit of Compliance - Printable
• Tree Resources
• Approved hedge list
• Grand oak pruning affidavit
• Trees exempt from needing a permit for removal
• Tree removal permit
• Residential Tree Removal Guide | Residential Tree Removal Guide - Spanish

Contact

If you have Natural Resource questions that are not answered here, submit a Natural Resources Inquiry or call the Natural Resource Unit at (813) 272-5600.