Houston County, GA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

3). It does not reach already-developed private property or the harvesting of trees grown for agriculture under a forestry management plan. 6 limits removal to only those trees necessary to permit construction of buildings, structures, streets, driveways and other authorized improvements, and requires existing vegetation to be preserved to the greatest extent feasible. Builders must protect retained trees' critical root zones using best management practices, including not grading, excavating or running utilities through the zone, keeping it pervious and unparked, protecting topsoil, and erecting temporary fencing where a tree could be damaged; topping a tree selected for preservation is flatly prohibited.

7 sets minimum canopy targets: residential subdivisions and mixed-use planned developments must retain at least three existing trees or plant three new trees per lot, reaching 20 percent canopy cover per lot at maturity, while commercial and industrial sites must protect 15 percent canopy cover site-wide. 8 governs replacement trees where new planting is needed to hit those numbers: replacement stock must be nursery-grade at a minimum height of 6 feet, planted at least ten feet outside utility, drainage or access easements and at least ten feet from curbs, driveways or sidewalks, with minimum spacing from 20 feet for small trees up to 45 feet for large trees at maturity. 4).