Tree Protection in Atlanta, GA (2026)
4 verified tree protection rules for Atlanta, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal Permits
Atlanta has one of the strongest tree protection ordinances in the nation under City Code Chapter 158, Article II. A tree removal permit (arborist permit) is required for the removal of any tree with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 6 inches or greater on private property. The city's Urban Ecology Division administers the program. Atlanta is known as the 'City in a Forest' and the ordinance is designed to protect that canopy.
Atlanta Tree Removal Permit Rules
Heavy RestrictionsHeritage & Protected Trees
Atlanta – the "City in a Forest" – protects every tree on private property 6 inches DBH or larger under City Code Chapter 158. Removal of a healthy tree requires a permit from the Arborist Division, a 15-day public posting, and either on-site replacement or payment into the Tree Recompense Fund at appraised value.
Atlanta Tree Protection Ordinance (City of Forest)
Heavy RestrictionsTree Replacement Requirements
Atlanta requires tree replacement for any permitted tree removal under the Tree Protection Ordinance (Chapter 158, Article II). Replacement requirements are calculated based on the diameter of the removed tree and must be planted within a specified timeframe. The city's goal is to maintain and increase the urban tree canopy, which covers approximately 47% of the city.
Atlanta Tree Replacement Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsUrban Forest Equity
Atlanta's Tree Protection Ordinance (Ch. 158) and Urban Ecology Framework target an equitable canopy across NPUs, prioritizing replanting in historically underinvested south and west Atlanta neighborhoods.
Urban Forest Equity and Canopy Goals
Some RestrictionsLooking for Fulton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Atlanta city rules.
Tree Protection in Fulton County →