Ordinance No. 2026-19City of Belton (Bell County)

Residential Tree Mitigation and Canopy Preservation Mandate

Bastiat Overreach Score: 92/100

Cost to Citizens: ~$2,000

Passed: 2026-07-14 • Effective: 2026-08-01

Executive Summary & Impact

Prohibits private property owners from cutting down or trimming any "protected hardwood tree" with a trunk diameter exceeding 8 inches on their own residential lot without prior written authorization from the City Arborist, imposing tree replacement mitigation fees of $250 per caliper inch.

Official Legal Text & Codified Sections

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BELTON, TEXAS; DEFINING PROTECTED AND HERITAGE TREES; REQUIRING MUNICIPAL TREE REMOVAL PERMITS PRIOR TO TREE ALTERATION ON PRIVATE PARCELS; ESTABLISHING FINANCIAL MITIGATION FORMULAS; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL.