Forney tree rules and permits

A plain-English guide for Forney, Texas homeowners. Always confirm with the city before work starts. Rules change.

Do you need a permit?

Depends. Under Forney's zoning code, a homeowner with an existing house on a single-family lot is not covered by the city's tree protection rules. Vacant land, redevelopment and some yard and landscape areas are covered. On covered property, taking out a protected tree (a listed species 6 inches or more across) needs a Tree Removal Permit, and the city decides within 30 days. Trees in the city right-of-way fall under the city code. Call the city before removing a big tree.

Who to ask: City of Forney, 401 Pinson Rd, 972-552-6620 (open Mon-Thu, closed Fridays) (website)

The rules

• A protected tree is a tree on the city's approved plant list that is 6 inches or more in caliper (trunk width).
• Developed single-family lots with an existing home are not covered by the tree preservation section.
• On covered property, no one may remove a protected tree without an approved application. If no building project is involved, a Tree Removal Permit is needed.
• The city has 30 days to approve or deny a Tree Removal Permit. A permit lasts 180 days.
• Removal is approved when the tree is a hazard to life or property, or is dead, dying or diseased and cannot be saved.
• Broken limbs, and trees that blow over or snap in a storm, can be cleared without a permit if it is done within 14 days.
• Replacement trees are usually required at a 3 to 1 ratio of trunk inches. Some single-family cases get a lower ratio.
• Brush for city pickup: limbs 6 inches across or less, 50 pounds or less and 10 feet long or less.

HOAs

Some Forney neighborhoods have an HOA. HOA rules can limit which trees you can remove, so check your rules before you cut a front yard tree.

Call before you dig

Texas811: dial 811. Call at least 2 business days before digging, including for stump grinding or planting.

Local conditions

Forney has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. North Texas storms can bring high wind, hail and tornadoes. A 2012 tornado hit homes in the Diamond Creek neighborhood.

• Spring storms can drop limbs and whole trees. Many removals come after storm damage.
• Hot summers stress trees. Dead or dying limbs often show up after a dry spell.
• Trees near homes and power lines need a trained crew.
• The city allows storm-damaged trees to be cleared within 14 days without a permit.
• Keep brush small and bundled to fit the city pickup rules.

Good to know

• Forney is called the Antique Capital of Texas.
• Forney had 23,455 people in 2020 and an estimated 41,658 in 2025.
• An EF-3 tornado hit homes in the Diamond Creek neighborhood on April 3, 2012.
• City hall is at 401 Pinson Rd and is open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is closed Fridays.
• City brush pickup is handled by Community Waste Disposal at 972-392-9300, option 2.
• Brush piles for pickup should be free of other debris and set close to the street without blocking the sidewalk.
• Forney's city code treats trees in city rights-of-way, streets, easements and parks under the city's own code of ordinances.