Columbus, OH Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Columbus, OH, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Replacement ratio
- 1:1 caliper inch per DSH inch removed
- Applies to
- Public trees on streets, parks, public places
- Required first step
- Public tree plan approved by Director
- Alternative
- Payment into city Tree Fund if no space
- Penalty
- Third-degree misdemeanor, per-day offense
Summary
Columbus requires 1:1 caliper-inch replacement for public trees removed on city streets, parks, and public property, planted on-site or funded through the Tree Fund.
If the Director determines that it is not practical to avoid tree removal, then the Director shall require that the public tree plan include the replacement of trees as follows: (1) at a rate of 1:1, one (1) caliper inch of replacement for every one (1)-DSH inch of removal; and (2) on the site where trees have been removed... Payment into the Tree Fund, at a rate established by the Director, shall be required if there are not suitable planting locations as determined by the Director.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Form Based Code: ?).
Full Breakdown
Under Columbus City Codes § 912.06, before any project disturbs a public tree on a city street, park, or public place, the project owner must submit a public tree plan to the Recreation and Parks Department. If the Director finds removal unavoidable, the plan must replace trees at a 1:1 ratio, one caliper inch of replacement for every DSH inch removed, planted on-site where possible. If the site can't hold the required trees, the Director may approve off-site planting or require payment into the city's Tree Fund at a rate the Director sets. The rule covers only public trees; private trees are addressed separately under the private nuisance tree provisions of this chapter.
Violations & Fines
Violating tree permit or mitigation rules is a third-degree misdemeanor under § 912.99, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense; unpermitted removal or excavation near a public tree carries strict liability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Columbus require replacing a public tree that's removed?
What if there's no room to plant the replacement trees on-site?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
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