Corpus Christi tree rules: what we could verify

We could not find a City of Corpus Christi page saying whether a permit is needed before removing a tree from a home lot, and the code text itself would not load for us. That is not the same as saying no permit exists. This page lists what the pages we read on 2026-11-05 do say. It is not the city speaking, and it is not legal advice. Before you cut anything big, ask the city through 311, or 361-826-2489 from a landline (its numbers, not ours).

What we could not read

The city's Unified Development Code page calls the code "a living document" and links to an online viewer. The viewer showed us only a loading screen, so we have not read its landscaping or tree sections. Some websites state tree size limits and permit rules for Corpus Christi without quoting a section of the code. We could not trace those claims to the code, so they stay off this page. If a company tells you there is or is not a permit, ask it which section it means, then check with the city.

Verified: diseased trees and upkeep

The Code Compliance page says "All lots and parcels of land must be maintained under 12" and free of any diseased trees or plants", citing High Weeds, Brush and Diseased Trees (sec. 23-70) and Keep Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Clean (sec. 49-10). It says property owners and tenants are equally responsible for the care of their premises. Violations are reported through 311. The city's property maintenance page says it adopted the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code. We did not read that code.

Verified: the right-of-way

The Right of Way Permits page says "Permits and licenses are required to operate in the City's right of way", and "It is your responsibility to identify if your activity impacts the ROW." It lists a construction and blockage application, says review typically takes 7 to 21 business days, and takes submissions at ROWManagement@CorpusChristiTX.gov. A 2024 Public Works brief summarizes sec. 49-2 as prohibiting obstructions and encroachments in the right-of-way, and sec. 49-3 as setting procedures for partly blocking streets, sidewalks and alleys.

Neither one mentions trees. We could not tell who owns or may cut a tree on the strip beside the curb, or whether a truck parked in a lane for a day needs a permit. Ask before the job, and ask the company whether it has dealt with this before.

Verified: state law on lines and digging

• Health and Safety Code 752.004 puts a six-foot buffer around high voltage overhead lines, for people and for tools, unless contact is guarded against. Section 752.003 covers notice to the operator for temporary work.
• Utilities Code 251.151 says an excavator must notify a notification center not earlier than the 14th day and not later than the 48th hour before digging, leaving out Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, with some exceptions. Texas811 says that means two business days for homeowners too, even in their own back yard, and calls the service free.

Verified: limbs over the fence

The Texas State Law Library says "A neighboring landowner has the right to trim or cut off the limbs or branches of the tree to the property line", though a lawsuit is possible if the tree or other property gets hurt along the way. It says the location of the trunk generally decides who owns the tree, with exceptions, and that Texas has no specific state statute on this, only court cases. It adds that cities may have local laws and that property owners' associations may have rules on tree maintenance. Check your deed restrictions if you have any.

Verified: plans, which are not rules

The city's area development plans sometimes mention trees. The Flour Bluff plan and the Padre/Mustang Island plan, both from June 2021, talk about encouraging tree preservation and planting and preserving remnant native groves. These are policy goals for the city to work on. We saw nothing in them that sets a rule for your lot, though we read the tree passages and not every page. The island plan also cites the Texas General Land Office's Dune Protection and Improvement Manual, so ask before clearing anything near a dune.

Verified: brush

Set-out dates, pile limits and the transfer station are on the brush page, all from the city's own pages.

Not verified: ask the city

• Is a permit needed to remove a tree on a home lot?
• Is there a protected or heritage tree rule, or a size limit?
• Can a tree counted toward required landscaping be removed, or must it be replaced?
• Who may cut a tree in the right-of-way, and does a lane or sidewalk closure need a permit for a one-day job?
• Are there dune, wetland or floodplain limits on your lot?
• Rules outside the city limits. Robstown, Portland and county land are not covered here.