Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Douglas County outside the Tahoe Basin?

What we found, and what we did not

Minden, Gardnerville and Gardnerville Ranchos are unincorporated, so ask Douglas County or your town board rather than a city hall. We did not find a rule requiring a permit to remove an ordinary tree from a private lot; ask Douglas County Public Works about trees along county roads.

Where a tree is not just yours

A tree in the county road right-of-way is outside your ownership, so ask Public Works before touching it. Property lines can be less obvious than they look; the county assessor's parcel maps show them. Our page on who owns a tree on the property line explains shared trees.

HOA and general improvement district covenants can require approval. NRS 472.500 also allows the State Forester Firewarden to direct owners within its jurisdiction to remove a fire hazard.

The Tahoe line is different

Douglas County includes the Nevada south shore of Lake Tahoe, where the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requires a permit for live trees over 14 inches across. That is a separate page: does a dead tree at Lake Tahoe need a permit.

We work in Minden, Gardnerville and the rest of the valley. Call 775.232.8243, and the arborist can tell you at the visit which office to ask for your address. See tree service in Gardnerville.

Because we could not confirm a rule, the safest path is a short call to Douglas County and a look at your HOA documents. Write down who you spoke to and the date, and bring that to the estimate visit so the plan reflects it.