Short answer: for a tree on your own residential lot in Huntsville, you generally do not need a city permit to remove it. Texas has no statewide residential tree-removal permit either. The two real exceptions: trees in the public right-of-way (the strip near the street) — the City of Huntsville has a formal request process for those — and trees regulated during new development under the city's Unified Development Ordinance (Article 7 covers tree preservation on development sites).
Why the internet gets this wrong
Search results mix up Huntsville, Texas with Huntsville, Alabama (which has different rules), and mix homeowner rules with developer rules. Austin-style heritage-tree ordinances that require permits for large-diameter trees on private lots exist in some Texas cities — Huntsville's ordinance framework is aimed at development and public trees, not a homeowner removing a hazard pine from the backyard.
The situations where you should still check
- Tree near the street: if it's between the sidewalk/ditch and the road, it may be in the right-of-way — city sign-off needed.
- Property line trees: a trunk on the line is legally shared property in Texas — get the neighbor's agreement in writing before removal, or see the neighbor tree law guide.
- HOA/POA rules: Elkins Lake and other communities have their own approval processes that exist separately from city rules.
- Inside other cities: New Waverly, Willis, Madisonville each have their own (generally light) rules — we confirm before cutting.