--- title: Can the City Make Me Remove a Dead Tree in Nevada? url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/can-the-city-make-me-remove-a-dead-tree/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [Questions and answers](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/) - [Permits and rules](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/) - Can the city make me remove a dead tree? # Can the city make me remove a dead tree? In some places, yes, though the order usually comes from a fire agency rather than the city. NRS 472.500 lets the State Forester Firewarden direct an owner within its jurisdiction to remove a fire hazard, and the agency, not us, decides when a tree qualifies. ## What Nevada law says Under NRS 472.500, an owner of land in the State Forester Firewarden's jurisdiction must eliminate and remove a fire hazard on the property when directed. If the owner does not comply in the time allowed, the Firewarden may do the work and recover the cost, including by a special assessment against the real property that is collected with property taxes. The statute does not name dead trees specifically; whether a dead tree counts as a fire hazard is for the agency to decide. It also does not say which parcels are within the jurisdiction, so ask the Nevada Division of Forestry. ## Other places an order can come from Fire districts inspect and send notices. The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District says a defensible space inspection may follow a notice from the district, an insurance need or a homeowner's own request. HOAs enforce covenants on dead trees in many neighborhoods. We did not read city nuisance codes for this page, so ask your city if you have received a notice. In all these cases, the agency decides, and the notice usually states a deadline. Read it carefully and keep a copy. ## If you get a notice Do not wait for the deadline. Call the agency, ask what exactly it wants removed and whether it will accept pruning or only removal. At Lake Tahoe, a dead tree that could fall on a house needs no TRPA permit. The arborist can tell you whether the tree is actually dead and what it could hit. A tree that looks bare in winter may not be dead; see [how to tell if a tree is dead or dying](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/is-my-tree-dead-or-dying/). Our estimate is free and can be shown to the agency: call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). ### Sources - [Nevada Legislature: NRS Chapter 472, Forest and Watershed Lands; Fire Protection (NRS 472.500)](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-472.html) (read October 17, 2026) - [North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District: Defensible Space](https://nltfpd.org/en-us/defensible-space) (read October 17, 2026) - [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Trees and Defensible Space](https://www.trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [How to tell if a tree is dead or dying](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/is-my-tree-dead-or-dying/) - [Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Northern Nevada?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-removal-permits-northern-nevada/) - [Permits and rules questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/) - [Home insurance and defensible space: what carriers ask for](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/insurance-and-defensible-space/) - [Tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/tree-removal/) ### Terms on this page [TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/trpa/) [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ### All permits and rules questions - [Permits and rules questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/) ## More permits and rules questions [Can I trim my neighbor's branches that hang over my yard?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/can-i-trim-my-neighbors-branches/) [Who owns a tree on the property line?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/who-owns-a-tree-on-the-property-line/) [Who is responsible for the street tree in front of my house?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/who-is-responsible-for-the-street-tree/) [Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Reno?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/permit-to-remove-a-tree-in-reno/) [Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Carson City?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/permit-to-remove-a-tree-in-carson-city/) [Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Sparks?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/permit-to-remove-a-tree-in-sparks/) [Previous question: Who is responsible for the street tree in front of my house?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/who-is-responsible-for-the-street-tree/)