3 rules for unincorporated Forsyth County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Forsyth County issues no tree-removal permit for ordinary yard work on a single-family lot. Its Tree Protection and Replacement Ordinance requires a tree plan only when you pull a land disturbance permit for development, which must protect boundary trees and meet a density standard.
Forsyth County Tree Protection and Replacement Ordinance (Ord. No. 98, adopted May 6, 2021)
In order to protect Boundary Trees and trees on adjoining property, there shall be no Land-Disturbing Activity conducted within 25-feet of the property line except for utilities.
Forsyth County protects Significant Trees, its specimen, historic, and landmark trees, through the tree ordinance at development. There is no outright ban, but these trees earn extra density credit and survey requirements that steer site plans to save them.
When development cannot meet Forsyth County's density of 20 tree units per acre with saved or planted trees, the shortfall is made up by replacement plantings or a payment of $400 per unit into the county Tree Replacement Fund.
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