Tree Protection in Alpharetta, GA (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for Alpharetta, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Alpharetta protects its most significant trees, called Specimen Trees, through a density credit and recompense system rather than a landmark registry. Saving a Specimen Tree during development earns extra credit toward the City's tree density requirement, while removing one forces replacement at three times its trunk diameter under the Unified Development Code.
Alpharetta Specimen Tree Recompense Rules
Significant RestrictionsAlpharetta Unified Development Code § 3.2.7
C.Owners shall receive a density credit of two (2) times the inches for each Specimen Tree saved by utilizing an alternate design during development. Specimen trees that cannot be saved must be replaced with recompense plantings equal to three (3) times the DBH of the tree(s) removed. Recompense trees shall be a minimum of four-inch (4″) caliper at time of planting. Trees of Quality or Tree Gro...
Protected Tree Species
Alpharetta's protection for individual tree species is built into the Specimen Tree definition: a tree qualifies for special preservation once it reaches a genus-specific diameter, from 20 inches for beech and southern magnolia to 30 inches for pine and sweetgum. Certain nuisance and invasive species are excluded from the parallel Tree of Quality category entirely.
Alpharetta Specimen Tree Species Thresholds
Significant RestrictionsAlpharetta Unified Development Code § 3.2.2
Specimen Tree. Any tree which qualifies for special consideration for preservation due to its size, type, condition, location or historical significance and which also meets the minimum size criteria set forth below. Size Criteria: Pine Trees: 30-inch diameter or larger for trees in the Pinus (Pine) genus. Coniferous Trees: 20" diameter or larger for trees in the cedrus (deodar cedar), Thuja ...
Parkway Planting
In Downtown Alpharetta, street trees go in the curbside planter strip at fixed spacing set by UDC Sec. 2.3.7: 40 feet on center where there are no overhead lines, 25 feet for smaller understory trees where lines exist, each tree needing a minimum 6-by-10-foot pervious planting area.
Alpharetta Downtown Overlay Street Tree Planter
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Unified Development Code § 2.3.7
A.Defined. A zone adjacent to the curb intended for planting street trees and the placement of street furniture including light poles, litter receptacles and similar items.B.Street trees shall be planted in the planter as follows:1.Where no overhead utilities exist, shade trees must be planted a maximum of 40 feet on center in the planter. Newly planted trees shall be a minimum of 3½ inches in ...
Looking for Fulton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Alpharetta city rules.
Tree Protection in Fulton County →