Landscaping Rules in Columbia County, GA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Columbia County, Georgia.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Columbia County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Columbia County requires a tree survey, a tree protection plan, and a land disturbance permit before most development can remove trees, and a specimen tree, meaning 16-inch caliper hardwoods or 20-inch pines and larger, can't come down without a separate removal permit and written justification under section 90-141.

Columbia County Tree Removal Permit Rules

Significant Restrictions

Columbia County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 90-141

(c)Exemptions. The following activities are exempt from the provisions of this section:(1)The removal of trees from any lot which contains or is zoned and platted or to be platted for purposes of constructing an individual single-family or two-family dwelling.(2)The removal of trees from horticultural properties such as farms, nurseries, or orchards.(3)The removal of trees from a site maintaine...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Water Restrictions

Columbia County follows Georgia's statewide watering schedule, not metro-Atlanta district rules. Under the 2010 Water Stewardship Act (O.C.G.A. §12-5-7), outdoor watering is allowed daily only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., year-round, for anyone on an EPD-permitted system.

Columbia County Outdoor Watering Restrictions

Some Restrictions

O.C.G.A. § 12-5-7 (Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010)

daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Columbia County ordinances

See every category we cover for Columbia County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Columbia County Ordinance Hub →