Key takeaways
- Live tree over 14 inches DBH needs a TRPA permit; 6 inches between the house and the lake on lakeshore lots.
- A dead tree that could fall on a house needs no TRPA permit.
- Removing branches from the upper two-thirds of a tree also needs a permit, with listed exceptions.
- Fire districts issue defensible space tree permits after a free evaluation.
This post covers the Nevada side only: Incline Village, Crystal Bay, Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove, Stateline and Kingsbury. Rules change, so confirm with TRPA or your fire district before work.
What is the 14-inch rule?
TRPA's Trees and Defensible Space page says a permit is needed to remove live trees over 14 inches diameter at breast height (DBH), measured 4.5 feet above the ground. On lakeshore lots, the limit is over 6 inches for trees between the house and the lake. Some trees need a permit at any size, such as trees planted or kept under a previous permit and trees in a Stream Environment Zone or backshore area.
How do you measure DBH?
Find 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill side of the trunk, wrap a tape around the trunk at that height and divide the circumference by 3.14. A 14-inch diameter is about 44 inches around. Our guide on the 14-inch rule and how to measure DBH has more.
What about dead trees?
TRPA says no permit is needed to remove a dead tree that could fall on a house. A conifer counts as dead if it has no green needles, while a deciduous tree must be confirmed dead by a qualified forester. For a dead tree away from a house, contact a TRPA forester to ask whether a permit is required.
Does pruning need a permit too?
Yes, in one case. TRPA requires a permit to remove branches from the upper two-thirds of a tree's total height. The listed exceptions are branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet, building or deck, branches that rub or pull on utility lines within your property (consult your power company first), and dead branches.
Who issues the permit?
TRPA issues permits, and a TRPA forester visits the property and issues a permit for the marked trees. For defensible space removals, the local fire protection agency may issue the permit: the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for Incline Village and Crystal Bay, and the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District for the Nevada south shore. Unless your agreement says otherwise, the property owner is responsible for the permit.
The agency decides, not a tree company. See the broader permits guide for Reno, Sparks and Carson City.
How does Battle Born fit in?
We work the Nevada side of the lake. We can help you measure, tell you which agency covers your property and what it usually asks for, and do the cutting once the permit is in hand. A certified arborist assesses every job before work begins, and Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. Trees at Tahoe are often large; see crane-assisted removal and Incline Village. Call 775.232.8243 for a free estimate.
Plan ahead, because a permit visit comes first and work second. Gather your address, a photo of each tree and its measured diameter before you call, and tell the agency if a tree is dead, leaning or near a structure. Do not remove a tree first and ask later. If a permit is denied or conditions are attached, the agency's decision stands, and a tree company can only work within it.
Sources
- Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Trees and Defensible Space (read October 1, 2026)
- North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District: Defensible Space (read October 17, 2026)