---
title: Tahoe Tree Removal Permits: The 14-Inch Rule
url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tahoe-tree-removal-permits-dbh/
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)
---

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- Tahoe tree removal permits: the 14-inch rule and how to measure DBH

# What is the 14-inch rule for tree removal at Lake Tahoe?

In the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requires a permit to remove a live tree larger than 14 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH), measured 4.5 feet above the ground. On lakeshore lots the limit is 6 inches for trees between the house and the lake.

Key takeaways

- Live tree over 14 inches DBH: TRPA permit needed.
- Lakeshore lots: over 6 inches DBH between the house and the lake.
- A dead tree that could fall on a house needs no TRPA permit.
- Removing branches from the upper two-thirds of a tree needs a permit, with listed exceptions.
- Defensible-space permits may come from the local fire protection agency.

The agency decides, and its rules change, so confirm with TRPA before any work. This guide explains the rule as TRPA publishes it, how to measure DBH, and where dead trees and defensible space fit.

## When is a TRPA permit needed to remove a tree?

TRPA's Trees and Defensible Space page says a permit is needed to remove live trees over 14 inches DBH when the house is not on the lakeshore. For lakeshore homes, a permit is needed for trees over 6 inches DBH located between the house and the lake. Trees outside that area need a permit only if they are live and over 14 inches DBH.

Some trees need a permit at any size: trees planted or kept as part of a previous permit, and trees located in a Stream Environment Zone or backshore area.

## How to measure DBH

- Find 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill side of the trunk.
- Wrap a tape measure around the trunk at that height to get the circumference.
- Divide the circumference by 3.14 to get the diameter.

TRPA gives an example: a tree with a 14-inch diameter has a circumference of about 43.9 inches. By the same arithmetic, a 6-inch diameter is a circumference of about 18.8 inches. If a tree is close to the line, ask TRPA to confirm rather than rounding your own way.

## Do you need a permit to remove a dead tree at Tahoe?

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, but 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. See our guide on [dead pines and bark beetles](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/removing-dead-pines-bark-beetles/).

## Pruning counts too

A permit is also needed 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. See [dead wooding explained](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/dead-wooding-explained/).

## Who issues the permit

TRPA issues permits, and a TRPA forester visits the property and issues a permit for the marked trees. You can apply online through the TRPA portal or use the Tree Removal Application. TRPA's phone number is (775) 589-5294. 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.

The agency decides whether a permit is needed and whether it is granted. Unless your agreement says otherwise, the property owner is responsible for the permit.

## Working with us

Battle Born works the Nevada side of the lake: Incline Village, Crystal Bay, Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove, Stateline and Kingsbury. We can tell you which agency covers your property and what it usually asks for, and we can help you measure. A certified arborist assesses every job before work begins. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. See our [Lake Tahoe questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/lake-tahoe/) and the broader [permits guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-removal-permits-northern-nevada/).

### Sources

- [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Trees and Defensible Space](https://www.trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/) (read October 17, 2026)
- [North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District: Defensible Space](https://nltfpd.org/en-us/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

- [Tahoe tree permits on the Nevada side in 2026](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/tahoe-nevada-side-tree-permits-2026/)
- [Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Northern Nevada?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-removal-permits-northern-nevada/)
- [Lake Tahoe tree work questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/lake-tahoe/)
- [Tree rules by jurisdiction: permits, rights-of-way and Lake Tahoe](https://battleborntreeservice.com/data/tree-rules-by-jurisdiction/)
- [Lake Tahoe, Nevada side](https://battleborntreeservice.com/service-areas/lake-tahoe-nevada/)
- [Dead wooding explained](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/dead-wooding-explained/)
- [Removing dead pines after bark beetles](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/removing-dead-pines-bark-beetles/)

### Terms on this page

[TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/trpa/) [DBH (diameter at breast height)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/dbh/) [Stream environment zone (SEZ)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/stream-environment-zone/) [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/)

[The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/)

### Tahoe tree permit check: measure your tree

In the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) requires a permit to remove a live tree over 14 inches in diameter at breast height (4.5 feet up the trunk). On lakeshore lots the limit is 6 inches for trees between the house and the lake. Wrap a tape around the trunk at 4.5 feet and enter the number.

Distance around the trunk (inches)

Where is the tree? Not between the house and the lake Lakeshore lot, between the house and the lake

Enter the measurement to see the diameter.

This is a measuring aid, not a ruling. TRPA and your fire protection district decide. A dead tree that could fall on a house does not need a TRPA permit. [TRPA tree rules](https://www.trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/)

## More from the blog

Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read

### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno?

In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas

Pruning and care October 17, 2026 6 min read

### Young trees in new subdivisions: the first ten years

A young tree in a new subdivision needs very little pruning in its first two or three years, then steady structural pruning to build one strong central trunk and well-spaced branches. The ISA says tre

Removal and equipment October 17, 2026 6 min read

### Where tree debris and green waste go in Reno and Carson City

Green waste has a few legitimate homes in our area: the landfill or transfer station if the load is only wood and green waste, a fire district drop-off day or curbside chipping program if you qualify,

[All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/)

## Questions people ask

Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week.

### What size tree needs a permit at Tahoe?

A live tree over 14 inches DBH. On lakeshore lots, over 6 inches DBH between the house and the lake.

### How do I measure DBH?

Wrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill side, and divide the circumference by 3.14.

### Does a dead tree need a permit?

TRPA says a dead tree that could fall on a house needs no permit. Deciduous trees must be confirmed dead by a qualified forester.

### Who do I call?

TRPA at (775) 589-5294, or your fire protection district for defensible-space removals.