Tree Protection Ordinances

Seven Good Reasons to support you local Tree Protection Ordinance.

1. Protect existing trees and older "specimen" trees, not just require replanting to "replace" trees cut down.
2. Focus on planning for tree save areas at the earliest stages of the development process, not as an unfeasible afterthought. A tree plan should be submitted at the same time as the development plat.
3. Require planting shade trees in parking lots and along streets where appropriate. Parking lots contribute greatly to the "heat island effect" and should be planted with shade trees to offset this problem. Street trees are also important, but large overstory trees, such as oaks and maples, should not be planted directly under power lines where they will not be allowed to achieve their shade or aesthetic potential.
4. Protect trees from unnecessary damage during construction.
5. Require sufficient amounts of replanting when trees must be cut down.
6. Require that trees along public streets are pruned in a healthy and
   aesthetic manner.
7. Have the goal of no net loss of trees over time in the area.

Where Can I find my local Tree Protection Ordinance?

Tree Ordinances are enforced by both cities and counties so if you live within the limits of any city you need to contact your city council members, but if you live in an unincorporated portion of the county you will need to contact your County Commissioners..

View Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances

How can I report a Tree Violation?

1. Call your city or county arborist. View Contacts.
2. Call your county commissioners or city council members, and your mayor. Call more than one person and keep a list of your calls. View Contacts.
3. If you report a flagrant violation and staff response is slow, call the press, especially local papers such as the extras and neighborhood papers, and your local TV station.

Of course it's best to get involved before trees are cut down. Your neighborhood association should keep informed especially of zoning changes and applications for development in your area. Watch for postings for new zonings, variances or tree removals, however these may not accurately indicate the true status of a project. Appeals can save trees and improve landscaping plans if done early enough.

When trees have been cut down, it may be in violation of a tree protection ordinance. A good rule of thumb is to report it if more than 75% of the trees have been cleared on a site, or if large older individual trees have been or are scheduled to be cut. Some ordinances, such as in Fulton and DeKalb counties, require the County Arborist's approval before cutting down very large "specimen" trees. Other ordinances have no protections at all for existing trees of any size. It is important to know what's legal and what's not according to the tree ordinance for your area.