Tree removal permit rules in Hamilton County, TN — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Chattanooga's Tree Ordinance does not prohibit homeowners from removing trees on their own private property, including backyards. Permits apply to public/right-of-way trees and to new development, which must meet tree-caliper requirements or pay into the city Tree Bank.
Per the City of Chattanooga, the Tree Ordinance (City Code Chapter 32, Article XIII) does not stop homeowners from removing trees on private property. It primarily targets new development, where large-scale land clearing reduces the city's canopy. Removal of public trees in the right-of-way requires city arborist approval. Developers must retain or plant tree caliper, or contribute to the Chattanooga Tree Bank. In unincorporated Hamilton County there is no county-wide private-tree removal permit; the county relies on zoning through the Regional Planning Agency and stormwater/erosion rules if land is disturbed. Check for HOA restrictions, which the city does not enforce.
Unauthorized removal of a protected public tree, or clearing during development without meeting caliper requirements, may result in fines and mandatory replacement costs.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Hamilton County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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