Oak Wilt Ordinances

Diseased Tree Ordinance

Article 14.06 of the Lakeway Code of Ordinances, also known as the Diseased Tree Ordinance, focuses on oak wilt prevention. The Diseased Tree Ordinance is strictly enforced in Lakeway with possible fines of $500 to $1000 per day.

Find out when it's legal to prune oaks in Lakeway.  

Highlights of the Diseased Tree Ordinance in plain English

The complete Diseased Tree Ordinance

Oak Planting Restrictions in Lakeway

Oak wilt-susceptible oaks may not be planted in Lakeway.  Overplanting of live oaks during Lakeway's rapid development phase in the 1980's contributed to the oak wilt epidemic we face today.  Sec. 24.02.402 of the Lakeway Code of Ordinances reads:  

The following tree species shall not be planted within active oak wilt centers due to their high susceptibility to oak wilt:

(1) Live oak (Quercus virginiana, Quercus fusiformis);

(2) Texas red oak or Spanish oak (Quercus texana, Quercus buckleyi);

(3) Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii);

(4) Southern red oak (Quercus falcata);

(5) Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica); and

(6) Other members of the red or black oak group.

The following oak species are usually oak wilt resistant and may be planted:

(1) Monterey or Mexican white oak (Quercus polymorpha);

(2) Lacey oak (Quercus laceyi, Quercus glaucoides);

(3) Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa);

(4) Chinkapin oak (Quercus muhlenberghii);

(5) Durand oak (Quercus durandii); and

(6) Other members of the white oak group.

A high diversity of trees and shrubs from different plant families is encouraged. 

Know Your Hill Country Oaks is a brief guide to most common native and planted oaks.