The short answer
- Safety comes first: keep clear of cracked limbs and report wire contact to the electric utility or 911.
- Jurisdiction matters: a tree removal permit depends on the municipality, property use and any applicable tree protections.
- Ownership matters: boundary trees, public land and shared landscaping need permission resolved as part of planning the work.
Permission Depends on the Tree's Location
Removal permission depends on jurisdiction, ownership and the rules attached to the parcel. A private yard tree normally starts with the owner's decision, but a development plan, protected planting or public right-of-way can change the approval path. Call with the tree's location; your tree pro can check the applicable requirements alongside the removal plan.
Private Yards and Development Sites
A tree cutting permit is a local requirement, rather than one uniform permission for every Middle Tennessee yard. An oak shading a driveway and a maple retained on a development plan may need different treatment even within one town. Identify the tree during the call without walking underneath damaged branches.
The local tree removal ordinance and the property's approved plans both matter. A fence doesn't establish a surveyed boundary, and a mowed verge doesn't establish private ownership. For tree removal on city property, the relevant municipal department must direct the permission process. For a roadside tree, the road authority determines the right-of-way and required approval.
Municipal Rules With Different Scopes
Each town's published rule applies within its own scope; a neighboring city's exemption doesn't transfer across the boundary.
| Place | Published requirement or process |
|---|---|
| Franklin | A tree removal permit is required for trees cut on any commercial, industrial or multi-family lot of any size and on single-family lots larger than 1 acre, and is not required for a single-family lot of 1 acre or less. |
| Nolensville | The zoning ordinance page lists a Tree Removal Permit among the ordinance amendments (Ordinance 25-12, adopted June 5, 2025). |
| Hendersonville | The planning page lists a Tree Removal Permit Application, a Tree Removal Permit Application Checklist and an Example Tree Survey. |
| Brentwood | The Tree Board page directs readers to Chapter 78, Article VIII of the Brentwood Municipal Code for tree management information, or the Planning and Codes Department at 615-371-2204. |
| Nashville | For developments other than single-family or duplex residential properties, an approved landscape plan is required before a building permit is issued. |
| Murfreesboro | The Tree Removal Program offers eligible homeowners a five-year to fifteen-year forgivable loan for removal of trees that have become hazards; it is a loan program, not a permit. |
For Smyrna, La Vergne, Mount Juliet and Lebanon, the town pages most relevant to tree work describe brush pickup and open burning, so ask the planning or codes office whether a particular tree needs approval.
For unincorporated property or another municipality, your tree pro can identify the responsible planning and road offices during job planning. Neither the table nor a mailing-city name establishes permission for a particular parcel.
Boundary Trees and Neighboring Branches
Tree removal on a property line needs the boundary and authority to act resolved before cutting starts. Ask a surveyor about the boundary and a Tennessee attorney about disputed ownership or consent. Tree trimming over a property line also calls for discussion with the neighbor and advice about the specific situation.
For tree cutting involving neighbors, laws and private covenants need separate attention. An HOA can explain its landscape approval process or responsibility for a common-area hackberry. Municipal permission doesn't settle a private disagreement.
Damaged Trees and the Call
A split Bradford pear or a hanging poplar branch is a reason to call now. Keep people, pets and cars outside the affected area. Take photos only from a safe distance. A downed or sagging wire should be treated as live; stay well away and call the electric utility that serves the address or 911.
One of our local tree service partners will discuss the scope and cost factors with you before work begins. Permission checks belong in that planning, alongside access, nearby structures and debris removal.