Landscaping Rules in Alpharetta, GA (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Alpharetta, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the City of Alpharetta, removing a tree that counts as a Non-Development Activity requires a tree removal permit from the Director of Community Development before any cutting begins. Routine pruning and exempted trees are excused, but a complete application gets a decision within ten working days under the Unified Development Code.
Alpharetta Tree Removal Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Unified Development Code § 3.2.4
A.Except for routine or seasonal pruning or transplanting of trees, and except as exempted, no person shall engage in any Non-Development Activity as defined without first obtaining a permit. ... If the request for a permit is complete, complies with the Ordinance, and requests tree removal for one of the purposes identified in Paragraph B below, the Director shall issue a permit no later than ...
Rainwater Harvesting
Alpharetta's Unified Development Code lets developers count rainwater harvesting systems, along with bioretention areas, vegetated swales and planter boxes, toward the perimeter, interior and median island landscaping requirements of a parking lot, as long as the system is part of an approved stormwater management plan and keeps its screening function.
Alpharetta Rainwater Harvesting Landscaping Credit
Few RestrictionsAlpharetta Unified Development Code § 2.5.5
I.Multifunctional Functional Runoff Reduction Measures. To encourage multifunctional runoff reduction measures and provide incentives for their use, bioretention areas, vegetated swales, planter boxes, rainwater harvesting systems, and other vegetated BMPs may be used to meet the perimeter island, interior island, and median island landscaping requirements of this Chapter, and may be constructe...
Native Plants
In the North Point Overlay, the City of Alpharetta's Unified Development Code encourages native, drought-tolerant landscaping. Parking lot plantings may use xeriscape design and native materials, and all required plant material in the overlay must be hardy to USDA Zone 7b and survive on natural rainfall once established.
Alpharetta North Point Native Plant Landscaping
Light RestrictionsAlpharetta Unified Development Code § 2.10.7.A.2, G
2.Landscape design and material selection may incorporate practices of water conservation and xeriscape. Use of native materials is encouraged. Plant materials should be arranged so that plants that require similar amounts of irrigation are placed together wherever possible. ... G.Plant Material. All plant material shall conform to UDC Sec. 3.2.8.A, Sec. 3.2.8.C, and the following standards:1.P...
Composting
Alpharetta's yard waste ordinance expressly protects backyard composting. Section 38-5(d) of the city code says nothing in the yard waste rules stops a property owner from mulching or composting yard waste for use on the same premises, and there is no permit, size limit or setback written into the chapter for a home compost pile.
Alpharetta Allows On-Site Yard Waste Composting
Few RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances § 38-5(c)-(d)
(c)Yard waste placed in anything other than an approved yard waste container, such as plastic bags or cardboard boxes, will not be picked up by the city. Each resident or business shall be responsible for the proper disposal of tree stumps, tree limbs more than three feet in length or six inches in diameter, and other trash such as rocks, concrete, bricks or similar solid materials, tires, dirt...
Looking for Fulton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Alpharetta city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Fulton County →