3 rules for unincorporated Columbia County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Columbia County requires tree protection and planting through the development process, not through homeowner tree-removal permits. New non-residential and multi-family projects must meet the tree and landscape standards of Code Sec. 90-140; single-family and two-family lots are exempt.
Columbia County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 90-140(a)(1) (Ord. No. 25-04, adopted May 20, 2025)
Any new building or site improvement must comply with the landscaping and screening requirements of this section.
Columbia County recognizes historic and heritage trees in its development code. When a required parking layout would force removal of a historic or heritage tree, the administrator can adjust the landscaping or parking rules to save it. There is no homeowner heritage-tree program.
Columbia County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 90-140(f)(2) (Ord. No. 25-04, adopted May 20, 2025)
In cases where the area required for the construction of the minimum parking spaces as required by section 90-135 would cause the removal of a historic or heritage tree, the administrator may modify the landscaping requirements and/or the parking requirements in order to preserve the affected historic or heritage tree.
Columbia County's development code sets tree-planting quotas rather than a simple replacement ratio. New commercial and multi-family sites must plant one shade tree for every 40 feet of street frontage, minimum two-and-a-half caliper inches, from the county's approved species list.
Columbia County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 90-140(d)(2)a (Ord. No. 25-04, adopted May 20, 2025)
One shade tree for every 40 feet of frontage shall be provided. Trees shall be a minimum of two and one half caliper inches at the time of planting, and must be selected from the list of approved tree species in section 90-145.
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