Augusta-Richmond County, GA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Augusta-Richmond 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
- Minimum canopy
- 30% of gross site area
- Enforcing agency
- Planning & Development Dept., City Arborist
- Permit required
- Tree Disturbance Permit before removal
- Public tree fine
- $1,000 per tree removed/damaged
- Pre-permit clearing penalty
- $10,000 per acre civil fine
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County requires new development, redevelopment, and expansion projects to preserve or plant at least 30% tree canopy coverage under the Augusta Tree Ordinance, with a Tree Disturbance Permit needed before removing protected trees.
All land undergoing development shall provide for thirty percent (30%) minimum tree canopy coverage. Tree canopy coverage is the sum total of preserved trees and replacement trees at their anticipated canopy coverage ten (10) years from the time that the site is developed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
The Augusta Tree Ordinance (Code Ch. 8-4) sets a citywide minimum tree canopy requirement of 30% for all new development, redevelopment, and expansion sites, calculated as preserved canopy plus replacement trees projected ten years out. A ten-member Augusta Tree Commission, plus two members appointed by the Richmond County Legislative Delegation, oversees landmark tree designation, the Official Tree List, and variance appeals. Removing or damaging a protected tree without a Tree Disturbance Permit triggers civil penalties: $1,000 per tree on public property, up to $10,000 per acre for clearing before permit approval on private development sites, and $500 per day for failing to maintain tree protection barriers.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree without a permit brings a $1,000 fine plus replacement costs; clearing before permit approval costs $10,000 per acre; misdemeanor prosecution follows continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 30% canopy rule apply countywide?
Can I remove a tree on my own property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Augusta-Richmond County
Compare Augusta-Richmond County to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
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