Columbia County, GA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Columbia County, GA, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Specimen tree size
- 16-inch hardwood or 20-inch pine caliper
- Single-family exemption
- tree removal exempt on new SF/duplex lots
- Timbering restriction
- 3-year permit bar after clear-cutting
- Tree protection plan duration
- 2 years past certificate of occupancy
- Survey inspection window
- 10 working days
- Appeal path
- planning commission under § 90-179
Summary
Columbia County requires a tree survey, a tree protection plan, and a land disturbance permit before most development can remove trees, and a specimen tree, meaning 16-inch caliper hardwoods or 20-inch pines and larger, can't come down without a separate removal permit and written justification under section 90-141.
(c)Exemptions. The following activities are exempt from the provisions of this section:(1)The removal of trees from any lot which contains or is zoned and platted or to be platted for purposes of constructing an individual single-family or two-family dwelling.(2)The removal of trees from horticultural properties such as farms, nurseries, or orchards.(3)The removal of trees from a site maintained for ongoing timbering activity. A land disturbance permit will not be issued for a period of three years following tree removal....(2)Removal of specimen trees. No specimen tree may be removed unless in accordance with the following requirements.a.Justification for removal. Any applicant proposing to remove a specimen tree must apply for a tree removal permit. In addition to the requirements for tree removal permits, the applicant must provide a written explanation as to why the specimen tree cannot be retained on the site.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).
Full Breakdown
Section 90-141 applies tree protection to any activity needing a development or land disturbance permit, covering all properties in the county's jurisdiction except the exemptions in subsection (c): removing trees to build an individual single-family or two-family dwelling, clearing horticultural land such as farms, nurseries, or orchards, removing trees from an active timbering site (which then bars a new land disturbance permit for three years), utility work within a dedicated easement, government right-of-way work, detention pond and drainage easement maintenance, and removing a tree a certified arborist determines is a danger to life or property.
Before any covered land disturbance, the applicant must submit a tree survey sealed by a registered surveyor, engineer, landscape architect, ISA-certified arborist, or registered forester, showing streams, buffers, and wetlands, and specifically labeling every specimen tree by size and species, whether it will be saved or removed. The planning services director inspects the site within ten working days of receiving the survey and can require changes. A separate tree protection plan, identifying the tract, the owner and any tenant with 24-hour emergency contact information, and the trees to be protected, must be approved before land disturbance begins and stays in force through two years after the certificate of occupancy issues.
Removing a specimen tree needs its own tree removal permit plus a written justification explaining why the tree can't be retained, including whether buildings, parking, stormwater facilities, utilities, or driveways could be redesigned to save it and what that redesign would cost. Property owners who can show hardship may seek a variance under section 90-179, and anyone unhappy with a staff decision on tree protection can appeal to the planning commission under the same section. Companies or persons removing trees must clear the site of resulting stumps, limbs, and debris.
Violations & Fines
Clearing trees, disturbing a tree-save area, or removing a specimen tree without the required permit and written justification violates chapter 90 and is subject to the general penalty in sections 1-9 and 90-187: up to $1,000.00 and 60 days in jail, with each day of the violation a separate offense. The director, county attorney, or an adjacent property owner can seek an injunction to stop unauthorized clearing or correct the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove trees for a new house in Columbia County?
What counts as a protected specimen tree?
Can I appeal if the county denies my tree removal request?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia County
Compare Columbia County to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
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