Cedar clearing, San Antonio

Cedar clearing in San Antonio,the rules sorted first.

Ashe juniper cleared or thinned on San Antonio's northwest side and in the ETJ, under the city's tree ordinance, with the oaks protected and the brush hauled or burned where it is legal.

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Cedar clearing
Bexar County
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Cedar clearing, San Antonio

Cedar on the northwest side

The far northern parts of San Antonio reach into the Hill Country along the Balcones Escarpment (Wikipedia), and out along Loop 1604, Scenic Loop, Babcock Road and Leon Springs much of the land is cedar and oak.

Cedar clearing inside the city or its ETJ is not like clearing out in the county. Ashe juniper counts under the city's tree ordinance, the city has its own oak window, and inside the city brush is hauled.

Highlander Construction is based next door in Helotes. Call and tell us about your land.

Local detail

What changes for cedar in San Antonio

Ashe juniper counts under the ordinance

The tree ordinance covers private property in the city limits and the ETJ. Ashe juniper, mesquite and huisache count as significant at 10 inches on one trunk, and permits or affidavits are needed before clearing vegetation (City of San Antonio FAQ). See the permit guide.

The city's oak window

Inside the city and ETJ, oak pruning is to be kept to a minimum from February 1 to July 1, and cuts on oaks painted no more than 30 minutes after they are made (City of San Antonio). Cedar work around oaks is timed for it.

Tall old cedar and the warbler

Golden-cheeked warblers nest in tall, mature Ashe juniper mixed with oaks, and they arrive in early to mid March and leave between late June and mid August (TPWD and USFWS). If you have that kind of stand, ask about it before clearing.

Where the brush goes

TCEQ's rules say to burn outside city limits unless a city ordinance allows it (AgriLife). Inside San Antonio, cleared cedar is hauled. Out in the county, Bexar County burn bans apply (Bexar County).

Questions

Cedar clearing questions: San Antonio

Not sure if we handle it? Call and ask.

(830) 328-3684 mullins840@gmail.com

Does cedar count under San Antonio's tree ordinance?

Yes. Ashe juniper counts as significant at 10 inches in diameter on one trunk. Permits or affidavits are needed before clearing vegetation in the city limits or the ETJ.

Can you burn the cedar inside the city?

Generally not, unless the city allows it. Inside the city, cleared cedar is hauled off.

Will cleared cedar grow back?

Cut Ashe juniper does not resprout from its roots. New seedlings come in over the years, so a light follow-up keeps the land open (TPWD).

Do you clear land in San Antonio too?

Yes. See land clearing in San Antonio for full lot and acreage clearing.

On the job

Photos from our work

Real photos from Highlander Construction jobs. Captions say what each shows. More in recent work.

Crawler dozer parked on freshly cleared pasture under an oak limb, with pushed trees in the distance — Dozer on fresh cleared ground

Open ground under trees after the brush was cleared out — Room under the trees

Cleared pasture with a few select trees left standing — Pasture cleared, select trees kept

Brush pile burning on a land clearing job beside a live oak — Brush pile burn on a clearing job

Selective cedar clearing in the Hill Country.

What TPWD and AgriLife say to keep, when to clear, the warbler question and the water claims to ignore.

Read the guide

Guide

Do you need a permit to clear land here?

Tree ordinances, the Helotes survey, Edwards Aquifer plans, floodplains and who to call.

Read the guide

Guide

Oak wilt and clearing: protecting your oaks.

How oak wilt spreads, the February to June rule, painting wounds and San Antonio's oak rules.

Read the guide

Sources

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