Tree Rules in Spring: Permits, Deed Restrictions and the Utility

Three different parties can have a say before a tree comes down on a Spring lot, and the county is usually not one of them.

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The county and the city

Spring is an unincorporated community in north Harris County, so most addresses with a Spring mailing address are outside any city. This site found no Harris County permit for removing a tree on a private residential lot. That is a negative finding, not a guarantee; if the tree is in a road right-of-way or a drainage easement, call the county before work starts.

The City of Houston does require a tree removal and trimming permit, but only for trees on city property, which it defines as rights-of-way, medians, parks and other city land, or on a setback. That rule applies inside the city limits; an address in unincorporated Spring is not inside them.

City of Houston: “A permit is required to remove any tree on city property (which include trees planted on rights of way, medians, parks and other city property) or on a setback.”

Source: Houston Permitting Center, Tree Removal/Tree Trimming Permit.

Deed restrictions and architectural review

In practice this is the rule that applies to most Spring homeowners. Champion Forest’s homeowners association, for example, describes enforced deed restrictions and an architectural control process for its sections 1 through 10. Many other deed-restricted subdivisions around Spring work the same way.

What that can mean for a tree:

Approval before removing a healthy tree in the front yard or a buffer strip.
A replacement planting requirement.
Rules about where brush and logs can sit, and for how long.
Nothing at all, if the tree is dead or already down. Read your own restrictions; this site has not read every association’s documents.

Ask the association in writing before the job, and keep the answer. A tree crew can work around a condition; it cannot undo a removal.

The utility

CenterPoint Energy runs the lines in the Spring area. Its guidance to customers is direct: never attempt to trim trees around energized power lines, and contact the utility about trimming or removing trees near them. For a downed line, it says to stay at least 35 feet away and contact it, and to call 911 in an emergency.

A tree crew that takes a job near a line should say who is handling the line before it quotes the rest.

Digging for a stump

Stump grinding goes below grade. CenterPoint tells customers to call 811 at least two business days before digging so underground lines can be marked. Ask the crew who makes that request.

None of this is legal advice. Rules change, and a deed restriction is a contract between you and your association. Confirm anything you rely on with the association, the county or the utility.

Keep reading

Tree removal Stump grinding Champion Forest FAQ

Know the Rules? Get It Priced.

The crew that calls back can tell you what it needs from the association or the utility before it starts.

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