Cherokee County, GA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Cherokee 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
- Permit required
- Land disturbance permit (LDP)
- Enforcing official
- County Arborist
- Homeowner exemption
- Single-family/duplex, own lot, non-heritage
- Small-project exemption
- 5,000 sq ft or less, no removal
- Base fine
- Up to $1,000 per violation
Summary
Cherokee County requires a land disturbance permit before removing trees on most unincorporated property, reviewed by the county Arborist under the Tree Preservation and Replacement Ordinance. Individual single-family and duplex homeowners may remove trees on their own lots without a permit, but that exemption never covers a designated heritage tree.
27.5-1 This ordinance shall apply to all properties or portions thereof located within the unincorporated areas of Cherokee County, Georgia, to the extent of the provisions contained herein. The terms and provisions of this ordinance shall apply to any activity on real property which requires the issuance of a land disturbance permit except as exempted in section 6.1 below. ... Land disturbance permit. Land disturbance activities shall not commence until such activities have been authorized by issuance of an appropriate land disturbance permit (LDP) under the provisions of the development regulations, latest edition. No land disturbance permit shall be issued for development without it being determined by the arborist that the proposed development is in compliance with the provisions of this ordinance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 39 | Zoning: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Article 27 of the Zoning Ordinance, the Tree Preservation and Replacement Ordinance adopted by Ord. No. 2008-Z-001 and amended by Ord. No. 2021-O-007, applies to all unincorporated Cherokee County property undergoing an activity that requires a land disturbance permit (LDP), per Sec. 5-1. Sec. 7-1 bars starting land disturbance, including tree removal tied to development, until the county Arborist determines the project complies with the ordinance and an LDP is issued. Sec. A. Sec. 12-6-24, and any project disturbing 5,000 square feet or less with no tree removal.
Sec. 6-2 lets the Arborist authorize removal of dead, diseased or insect-infested trees without a permit on written advice from the county extension service, the Georgia Forestry Commission or an ISA Certified Arborist. Where trees are removed for development, Sec. 8's density requirements set how many trees per acre must be preserved or replanted, with Sec. 9 giving extra credit for saving existing specimen and heritage trees rather than replanting. Violations run through Sec. 4: a fine of up to $1,000 per offense, stop-work orders, injunctive relief and permit denial, revocation or suspension, on top of any required replacement planting, with the Arborist responsible for enforcement and the county marshal's office serving citations.
Violations & Fines
Removing or damaging trees without the required land disturbance permit exposes the responsible party to a citation, a fine of up to $1,000 per violation under Sec. 27.4-1, and required replacement planting sized by the Arborist's estimate. Each day a continuing violation persists counts as a separate offense under Sec. 27.4-3, and the county can also pursue injunctive relief or revoke development permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my yard?
Can I remove a dead or diseased tree without going through the Arborist first?
What happens if I clear trees for development without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cherokee County
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