Tree Canopy Requirements Updated In Vienna To Address Declining Trees

VIENNA, VA — Vienna's tree canopy has been dwindling, so the town is setting new guidelines to make preserving greenery a priority.

On Monday, Vienna Town Council approved town code amendments to set new minimum tree coverage requirements between 10 and 25 percent after 20 years. Tree coverage standards have been required in the construction permitting process for developers since 2014. Developers have to submit a tree canopy coverage plan with required coverage after 20 years between 10 and 20 percent, depending on the property type.

The newly-approved standards still require a site plan detailing tree inventory, tree preservation measures and tree replacement as needed to meet tree canopy requirements. The new tree canopy coverage requirements after 20 years are 25 percent for residential single-family detached in zones RS-16 and RS-12.5, 20 percent for single-family detached RS -10, 15 percent for residential multifamily units, and 10 percent for transitional, Avenue Center district, Avenue East gateway district, Church Street district, Gateway South district, Corporate Park district, Mill district and neighborhood mixed-use zones.

The tree canopy amendments were sought in a years-long process to address Vienna's declining tree canopy. According to the town's 2022 tree study, the town of Vienna's tree canopy fell 13 percent between 2011 and 2021. The estimated tree canopy in the town is 38.7 percent, which is lower than the city of Falls Church's 46 percent but above Arlington's 38 percent and Alexandria's 32.5 percent. The Town of Vienna has been recognized as a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation for 23 years for working to improve the tree canopy.

In addition to setting the new tree canopy requirements, Vienna Town Council approved a Tree Advocacy Committee to report to the town's Conservation and Sustainability Commission and to the Town Council.

The changes take effect on July 29, 2024.