TREE BOARD
Review the Tree Board page here -- Tree Board - City of Covington Louisiana
TREE PROTECTION
Tips for protecting trees during construction/landscaping
- Fence a Tree Protection Zone (TPZ/CRZ) before any Clearing/grading - enforce “no encroachment”.
- No parking, no dumping, no stockpiling, no concrete washout inside the fenced protection
- Avoid grade changes (cut/fill) and trenching through the critical root zone. Use controlled access routes if needed.
- Trenchless utility crossings (boring/tunneling) when you must cross near roots.
- Limit pruning to what’s necessary for safety/clearance, and have it approved by a qualified arborist.
- Avoid unnecessary root damage: Many “tree failures after construction” are due to root/soil compaction problems.
- After construction: re-check the tree and address any root/trunk damage quickly.
TREE REMOVAL
Best practices/considerations for tree removal
- Preserve-first:
- If grade/layout can change, keep the tree and protect the root zone instead of removing.
- Arborist-led assessment:
- Decision should be based on structural risk/health and feasibility of preservation (not just “it’s in the way”).
- Partial removal over full removal when possible:
- Selective removal of hazardous limbs is often preferable to whole-tree removal.
Tree Removal Permit - Tree Removal Permit
TREE PLANTING
General guidance – when replacing a tree
- Replace for function + mature size, not for the same look at
- Avoid repeating the conflict that caused removal (power lines, driveway clearance, ROW/sidewalk clearance, septic/drainage issues).
- Right tree, right place: match the replacement to moisture (dry vs wet), soil quality, and available rooting space.
- Plan a protection zone during construction (fencing + no equipment parking/stockpiling inside the tree’s root area).
A Tree Planting Permit is required if planting on public property. Apply to appear at the Tree Board Meeting. -- Application to Appear
