Tree Protection in Mobile, AL (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for Mobile, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Mobile designates certain live oaks and eight other species as protected 'heritage trees' once they reach 18 inches DBH (8 inches in historic districts), a status that triggers the city's tree permit requirements.
Mobile Heritage Tree Designation Rules
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 65-2
Heritage live oak tree: A live oak tree which is at least eighteen (18) inches DBH. Heritage tree, existing: Any of the following list of trees which is at least eighteen (18) inches DBH: hickory (Carya spp.); longleaf pine (Pinus palustris); magnolia (Magnolia spp.); oak (Quercus spp.), excluding water oak (Quercus nigra); river birch (Betula nigra); sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua); syc...
Protected Tree Species
Mobile names eight specific species, hickory, longleaf pine, magnolia, oak (excluding water oak), river birch, sweet gum, sycamore, and yellow poplar, as protected 'heritage trees' once they reach the code's size threshold.
Mobile's Protected Heritage Tree Species
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 65-2
Heritage tree, existing: Any of the following list of trees which is at least eighteen (18) inches DBH: hickory (Carya spp.); longleaf pine (Pinus palustris); magnolia (Magnolia spp.); oak (Quercus spp.), excluding water oak (Quercus nigra); river birch (Betula nigra); sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua); sycamore (Platanus occidentalis); and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). In historic...
Parkway Planting
New and redeveloped commercial parcels in Mobile's Peninsula and Africatown overlays must provide street trees along the lot frontage, spaced per an approved plant list, plus a 5-foot minimum sidewalk. The Spring Hill Overlay is more specific, requiring 30-foot on-center spacing, and a citywide rule sets frontage-tree ratios for every other district.
Mobile Overlay District Street Tree Standards
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 64-12-1.D.3
D.Streetscaping standards for commercial districts.1.Sidewalk and streetscape improvements. At the time of development or redevelopment, sidewalk and/or streetscape improvements required by this article shall be constructed adjacent to the parcel.2.Minimum sidewalk width. A sidewalk width shall be maintained along the existing primary frontage to allow ample space for sidewalks to accommodate p...
Looking for Mobile County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mobile city rules.
Tree Protection in Mobile County →