Trees In Chapel Hill

We are proud of our trees in Chapel Hill. From adopting a tree-planting program in the 1930s to hiring trained tree workers in the 1980s and joining the Arbor Day Foundation and Tree City USA in the 1990s, we are dedicated to preserving the legacy of our trees.

Tree Removal on Town or Public Property

Sometimes we need to take down a tree on Town or public property. Whether it's due to decline, disease, or public safety concerns, we only remove trees after a careful review process and when we determine it's absolutely necessary.

Report a tree issue on Town or public property

Tree Protection Ordinance

As part of our broader sustainability goals, our Town Council adopted a Tree Protection Ordinance. 

The goals of this ordinance include reducing carbon emissions, mitigating the urban heat island effect, treating tree canopy as a protected resource in development decisions, and more.

Review the ordinance

Donate or Volunteer

You can help protect and grow our urban forest with us and the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation. With help from the NC Botanical Garden, donations, and community volunteers, we're able to plant a variety of native trees each year.

Get involved or donate

Measuring Tree Canopy

Trees enhance our livability by improving air and water quality, reducing stormwater runoff, slowing traffic, providing shade, and more.

Our Planning Department offers two documents to help you measure and calculate tree canopy:

Tree Canopy Measurement Template(PDF, 91KB)
Steps for Measuring Canopy(DOCX, 16KB)

Questions? Email planning@townofchapelhill.org or call (919) 968 - 2728