Landscaping Rules in DeKalb County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Unincorporated DeKalb County bars dead or hazardous trees, shrubs and weeds that block sidewalks, streets, traffic signs or fire hydrants under the county's property maintenance code.
DeKalb County Hazardous Tree Sidewalk Clearance
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 18-9(a)
There shall be no dead or hazardous trees, shrubs, ground cover or weeds likely to harbor vermin or insects, restrict or impede access to or public use of adjacent sidewalks and streets, obstruct traffic-control signs and devices and fire hydrants, or pose a risk of physical injury to the public.(b)Debris. There shall not be maintained on a property for more than seven (7) calendar days any use...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Property owners in unincorporated DeKalb County may remove up to five non-specimen trees per calendar year on a single-family lot without county approval; removing more requires county arborist sign-off tied to construction or tree health.
DeKalb County Tree Removal Rules
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code of Ordinances § 14-39(c)(1)
(c)Exemptions.(1)a.The removal of five (5) or fewer trees, other than specimen trees, on any single-family residential property, within a single calendar year.b.The removal of more than five (5) trees, other than specimen trees, from an owner-occupied, single-family lot may be approved by the county arborist if the owner must remove trees in order to build a newly permitted structure, or to bui...
Weed Ordinances
In unincorporated DeKalb County, Code Section 18-38(c) bars owners and occupants from letting weeds or grass within 150 feet of any building or structure grow past 12 inches. The same section separately requires every property to stay free of weeds, underbrush, trash, garbage and inoperable vehicles that create a health menace, fire hazard or unsafe condition, enforced by the chief of police under the county's property-maintenance code.
DeKalb County Weed and Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 18-38(a), (c)
(a) Persons shall keep their property free of those weeds and underbrush which create a health menace, fire hazard or an unsafe or unsanitary condition as well as trash, garbage, inoperable vehicles or other things thereon which constitute a violation of the provisions of this article...(c) Owners and occupants of property shall not permit weeds or grass within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a...
Water Restrictions
When a water shortage or potential shortage threatens DeKalb County's water system, County Code § 25-31(b) lets the chief executive restrict unessential uses such as lawn watering and automobile washing to certain hours of the day, or prohibit them entirely, until the shortage or potential shortage no longer exists.
DeKalb County Lawn Watering Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 25-31(b)
the chief executive may issue such warning to the public as appropriate to effect conservation measures or the chief executive may by order direct that unessential water usages, such as lawn watering and automobile washing, may be restricted to certain hours of the day or not permitted at all until the shortage or potential shortage no longer exists. Persons shall not violate such an order.
All DeKalb County ordinances
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