Chattanooga, TN Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Chattanooga, TN, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Chattanooga City Code § 32-315
- Who decides
- City Forester
- Compliance window
- 14 days from written order
- Cost if City removes
- billed as special assessment
Summary
Chattanooga can order a private property owner to remove dead or diseased trees that endanger life, property, or nearby trees, giving the owner fourteen days to comply before the City removes it and bills them.
The city shall have the right to order or cause the removal of any trees that are dead or diseased on private property within the city, when such trees constitute a hazard to life and property, or harbor insects or disease which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the city. The City Forester shall determine which tree or trees are to be removed. .....(b)Unless such trees pose immediate hazard to public safety, the owner of such trees will be ordered, in writing, to remove said trees, stating the reason for removal and the location of said tree or trees to be removed. Removal shall be done by said owners at the owner's expense within fourteen (14) days after the date of the order to remove. In the event the owner fails to comply with such order to remove, or if public safety considerations require immediate removal, the city shall then proceed to remove said tree or trees, and to charge removal costs to the owner of the property as provided by law in the case of special assessments. ..... (Ord. No. 14217, § 1, 4-8-25)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 32-315 gives the City authority to order removal of dead or diseased trees on private property when they threaten life or property, or when they harbor insects or disease that could spread to other trees. The City Forester decides which trees qualify. Unless the tree is an immediate hazard, the owner gets a written order stating the reason and location, and fourteen days to remove it at their own expense. If the owner misses the deadline, or if public safety demands immediate action, the City removes the tree itself and charges the cost back to the owner as a special assessment.
Violations & Fines
Missing the fourteen-day removal window lets the City remove the tree and bill the owner directly, collected the same way as other special assessments against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chattanooga make me remove a dead tree on my own property?
What if my tree is about to fall immediately?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chattanooga
Compare Chattanooga to another location·View the Tennessee landscaping rules overview
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