Tree Protection in Rockdale County, GA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Rockdale County, Georgia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Heritage & Protected Trees

Rockdale County designates large, healthy trees as specimen trees under Code Section 328-26, requiring a certified arborist's survey before development and extra density credit for developers who protect them. Large hardwoods and softwoods 30 inches in diameter or larger, and small native flowering trees 10 inches or larger, qualify if they're sound, free of major disease, and expected to live at least 15 more years.

Specimen Tree Protection in Rockdale County

Significant Restrictions

Rockdale County Code § 328-26

Some trees on a site warrant special consideration and encouragement for protection, and are deemed specimen trees. ... a.Large hardwood: 30-inch diameter or larger.b.Large softwood: 30-inch diameter or larger.c.Small native flowering: 10-inch diameter or larger (e.g. Dogwood, Redbud, Sourwood). ... Any specimen tree that is damaged or removed without the appropriate review and approval of the ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parkway Planting

In the CRS Collaborative Residential Subdivision zoning district, unincorporated Rockdale County requires street trees along every street, spaced no more than 50 feet apart, at least three inches in trunk diameter, with no more than 25 percent of the total planted from any single genus, subject to the director's species approval.

Street Tree Planting Rules in Rockdale County

Some Restrictions

Rockdale County Code § 206-5(d)(20)c

c.Street trees.1.Street trees shall be planted along each side of all streets, public or private, existing or proposed. Existing healthy and mature street trees may be counted toward the street tree-planting requirement.2.Street trees shall have a minimum of three inches dbh.3.Street trees shall be spaced at intervals no greater than 50 feet along both sides of each residential street; spacing ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Rockdale County ordinances

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

Rockdale County Ordinance Hub →