Tree rules in Atlanta: permits, protected trees and fees
What Chapter 158 of the Atlanta Code of Ordinances says about regulated trees (6 inches and up, pines 12 inches), the registry that tree service companies and arborists join, the removal permits, recompense of US$140 per caliper inch and the fines for illegal destruction.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It describes Chapter 158 Vegetation, article II Tree Protection, of the Atlanta, Georgia, Code of Ordinances as published on the Municode site and read on October 9, 2026. The article was rewritten by Ordinance 2025-19 (June 24, 2025) and amended by Ordinance 2026-03 (February 11, 2026). The wider list of cities is on the guide to tree permits in the largest US cities. The city arborist decides permits. For dead, dying or hazardous trees the Code names the city arborist of the Department of City Planning for private property and the city arborist of the Department of Parks and Recreation for public property.
Which trees are regulated
Section 158-29 says the article applies to all trees on public property subject to city regulation, including school and public housing property, parks, rights of way and easements, and to regulated trees on private property. A regulated tree on private property is any tree other than a pine with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 6 inches or more, and any pine with a DBH of 12 inches or more. Licensed nurseries and tree farms are exempt only for trees grown for sale or another public purpose, and some botanical gardens are exempt on stated conditions. The city arborist may allow modest variations, but not more than a 33 percent impact to the critical root zone of a saved tree. The mayor or the mayor's designee may waive requirements temporarily during and just after a declared public emergency.
Section 158-34 says no one destroys, removes or impacts a regulated private tree without a permit from the city arborist, and no one damages, prunes, removes or otherwise affects any tree of any size in a public right of way, park or other public property without a permit or other authorisation from the city. Section 158-35 requires pruning in the public right of way and on city property to follow ANSI A300 and ISA best management practices.
The registry for tree service companies and arborists
Section 158-33 requires all tree service companies doing business in Atlanta, and all arborists, foresters, landscape architects and other professionals who prepare or sign tree protection plans in a permit application, to register with the city arborist before conducting business. Registration carries no fee, is renewed annually on the schedule of the occupational tax certificate or professional licence, and needs a signed affidavit that the registrant knows and will abide by the ordinance.
| Who | What section 158-33 asks |
|---|---|
| Arborists who submit or sign tree removal permit documents | Hold ISA or American Society of Consulting Arborists certification, with documentation at registration |
| Foresters and landscape architects who sign those documents | Be licensed with the State of Georgia, with documentation at registration |
| Tree service companies | Register. Work in the city by an unregistered tree service company is punishable as a violation of the article |
The section sets suspensions from the registry. For repeated significant errors on submittals, the first violation is a written warning, the second and third bring one-month and six-month suspensions, and each later one six months more. For illegal tree destruction by a tree service company or other tree professional, the first violation is a written warning, the second a six-month suspension, and each later violation a year. A suspended professional submits no plans during the suspension, and may appeal to the Tree Conservation Commission.
Removal permits
| Permit | What the Code says |
|---|---|
| Dead, dying or hazardous, 158-44 | Applied for by the owner or the owner's agent, such as a tree service company. Seven or more trees need an assessment by a registered tree professional. The permit is valid six months, with one extension of up to six months, and removal is not subject to replacement or recompense except in stated cases |
| Emergency, 158-45 | For imminent likelihood of failure the applicant may ask the city arborist for verbal or written approval. If the arborist cannot be reached, the tree may be removed, and the person applies for retroactive approval with photos within five business days |
| Invasive or undesirable, 158-47 | A permit is required at 6 inches DBH or greater. The list is kept by the city arborist and approved by the Tree Conservation Commission |
| Healthy trees, 158-51 | Granted by the city arborist for permitted construction or demolition, for landscaping where the tree is not in a setback and impact has been minimised, and for silvicultural prescriptions |
Recompense and fines
Section 158-69 says the DBH of healthy trees approved for removal is replaced by planting an equal number of caliper inches, on or off site. Payment in lieu is allowed only if its conditions are met, and cannot stand in for tree density requirements. The established recompense value is US$140 per caliper inch, effective January 1, 2026, adjusted for inflation each year from January 1, 2027 and published by the Department of City Planning by January 15. Trees planted for replacement are credited at 1.25 times their caliper inches.
Section 158-86 sets a minimum fine of US$500 for a first violation that destroys a tree and a fine of US$1,000 for each later one, with each tree a separate offence and any violation within two years of an earlier one treated as later. The responsible party also plants replacements or pays recompense. Where the city arborist cannot count the trees, the fine is US$200,000 per acre, calculated on 60 trees per acre. During construction, failing to keep approved tree protection brings a recorded correction notice and a stop work order for a first violation, and a fine of US$500 for a second violation and US$1,000 for later ones, with each penalty capped at US$1,000. The section also lets the city arborist issue stop work orders and citations, and lets the Atlanta Police Department issue a cease-and-desist order that lasts two business days. Both the owner and an agent who commits or helps commit a violation may be found guilty.
Sources
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances section 158-29 Applicability and exemptions, on Municode, read October 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances section 158-33 Registration of arborists, foresters, landscape architects, and tree service companies, on Municode, read October 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances section 158-34 Damage and destruction of trees and section 158-35 planting and maintenance standards, on Municode, read October 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances sections 158-44 to 158-46 removal of dead, dying or hazardous trees on private and public property and emergency removals, on Municode, read October 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances section 158-51 Permits for the removal of healthy trees, on Municode, read October 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances section 158-69 Replacement tree and monetary recompense requirements, on Municode, read October 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances section 158-86 Violations, on Municode, read October 9, 2026