Which places around Seguin does this cover?
| Place | What the record shows |
|---|---|
| McQueeney and the Lake McQueeney area | An unincorporated census-designated place, with 2,397 people at the 2020 census. |
| New Berlin | A Type A general-law city under Chapter 7 of the Texas Local Government Code; the county judge confirmed its incorporation election on June 9, 1975. |
| Kingsbury | Voters approved incorporating as a Type C municipality, 66 to 2, on May 9, 2015. |
| Santa Clara | Has its own city government website, which posts a burn-rules handout. |
| Geronimo, Marion and Zuehl | Communities in the county around Seguin. |
| The Lake Placid and Lake Dunlap areas | Lake communities in the county near Seguin. |
| Cibolo, Schertz and New Braunfels | Each has its own tree rules; if you live inside one of those cities, check with that city's planning office. |
Do homes outside Seguin need a tree permit?
The Seguin tree permit, with its 6-inch and 4-inch protected sizes and its platted-lot exemption, comes from the City of Seguin's Unified Development Code, and the code's Tree Trust Fund is for trees within the city limit. Out in the county the picture changes:
- Unincorporated county. Before clearing near a road, a drainage ditch or a floodplain, check with Guadalupe County; the county's main line is 830-303-4188 (checked Nov 14, 2026).
- Incorporated towns. New Berlin, Kingsbury and Santa Clara have their own city governments. Ask city hall before a large removal.
- State law. Texas Local Government Code §212.905 limits what any Texas city can do: no ban and no mitigation fee for a dead, diseased or imminently dangerous tree, and no mitigation fee for a tree under 10 inches at an existing one- or two-family home that is the owner's residence. It doesn't apply within five miles of a federal military base in active use on Dec 1, 2017. Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph sits next to Schertz and Universal City, so homes in the western county should ask the city that governs them whether that exception reaches their address (checked Nov 14, 2026).
The full Seguin rules are on the Seguin tree permit page.
How do burn bans work in Guadalupe County?
On Nov 14, 2026, the Guadalupe County Fire Marshal's page read "Burning Allowed," with the burn ban lifted effective Oct 31, 2026. That can change within days, so look again before you light anything.
Bans come from the Commissioners Court. The order of Dec 3, 2025, signed by County Judge Kyle Kutscher, was adopted under Local Government Code §352.081, covered the unincorporated areas of the county, ran for 90 days, and made a violation a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. While a ban is in effect, all outdoor burning except for agricultural purposes is prohibited.
With no ban on, the state rules still apply. The Fire Marshal points to the requirement that wind speed be between 6 and 23 mph, and lists the penalty for an offense as a fine of $1,000 to $50,000 for an individual, up to 180 days in county jail, or both. TCEQ's rule allows burning domestic waste, including grass, leaves and branch trimmings from that property only, where trash collection at the premises isn't provided by the local government, and TCEQ says never to burn during a burn ban or a red flag warning (30 TAC §111.209; TCEQ GI-415, Rev. 4/25). Santa Clara publishes its own burn rules.
The Fire Marshal and Office of Emergency Management share an office at 101 E. Court Street, Suite 208, in Seguin; the phone is (830) 303-8856 (checked Nov 14, 2026).
Who trims near power lines on rural property?
For GVEC members, the cooperative says it aims for 15 feet of clearance between branches and power lines on a reclearing cycle of about six to seven years, trims branches between poles and any limbs that need it up to the meter, and that homeowners should never take on that work themselves. GVEC's number is 800.223.4832 (checked Nov 14, 2026). Near town, some homes are on City of Seguin Electric lines instead; the city's main line is 830-379-3212.
Texas Health and Safety Code §752.004 keeps people, tools and material out of the six feet around a high-voltage overhead line unless the danger is guarded against, and §752.003 calls for 48 hours' notice to the line's operator for temporary clearance.
What storms have hit trees outside town?
- Kingsbury, Mar 21, 2022. An EF2 tornado touched down at 5:48 p.m. just east of Kingsbury and lifted at 6:08 p.m. northeast of Stairtown. The NWS says it did substantial damage to trees and damaged homes and barns. ABC News 4 reported up to two dozen homes damaged.
- North of New Berlin, May 26, 2026. An EF1 with peak winds estimated at 105 mph tracked 2.92 miles, from 3 miles north to 4 miles northeast of New Berlin, between 10:20 and 10:25 p.m. The worst damage was north of Kunde Road, with widespread tree damage; there were no deaths or injuries. KSAT described it as touching down near Santa Clara.
- February 2021. The weather service logged 6.0 inches of snow 3 miles southeast of Kingsbury and 5.0 inches 3 miles north-northwest of Cibolo.
- July 2025. Rapid, widespread flooding began July 5, and the county judge signed a local disaster declaration on July 7 (county OEM).
All from NWS Austin/San Antonio, county and news records checked Nov 14, 2026. More on the storm-damaged trees page.
What's different about tree work on acreage?
- No city brush truck. Seguin's curbside brush pickup is for city residents, so county properties plan on hauling, chipping, or burning when the rules allow it.
- 811 still applies. Grinding stumps or digging 16 inches deep with powered equipment calls for notice at least 48 hours ahead, weekends and holidays left out. The law has a separate exception for certain agricultural operations (Utilities Code §251.156(a)(4)); ask before assuming it fits a stump job. Stump grinding and 811.
- Oaks. Live oaks on a property with others nearby can share roots, which is how oak wilt moves underground, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Keep oak pruning to July through January and paint every cut. Live oak care.
Questions from homes around the county
Does Seguin's brush pickup come to my county road?
The Living Green in Seguin guide (2023) describes curbside pickup for city residents, about once every five weeks (checked Nov 14, 2026). Outside the city, plan on the contractor hauling the wood or on burning it when no ban is on.
Is McQueeney part of Seguin?
No. McQueeney is an unincorporated census-designated place, not a city.
Can someone come out to the county for tree work?
Yes. Send a request and choose "Elsewhere in Guadalupe County," or call (830) 406-4266. One independent contractor who takes jobs across the county receives it.
Sources: Citypopulation.de, McQueeney; City of New Berlin; Kingsbury incorporation election; Santa Clara burn rules; Seguin EDC, utilities; Seguin Unified Development Code; Guadalupe County; Texas Local Government Code §212.905; Guadalupe County Fire Marshal; Dec 3, 2025 burn ban order; 30 TAC §111.209; TCEQ GI-415; GVEC; Texas Health and Safety Code §752.004; NWS Austin/San Antonio on the Mar 21, 2022 tornado and the February 2021 storm; NWS damage survey, May 27, 2026; KSAT; ABC News 4; Guadalupe County OEM; Texas Utilities Code ch. 251; Living Green in Seguin (2023); Texas A&M Forest Service, oak wilt. All checked Nov 14, 2026.