Johns Creek, GA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Johns Creek, 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
- Revegetation duty
- Owner/developer must replant disturbed areas
- Clearcut bond
- 125% of tree replacement cost
- Abandonment trigger
- Bond used after 30-day no response
- Enforced by
- Community Development Department
Summary
Johns Creek requires owners and developers who disturb a protected tree zone to revegetate the area with trees or plants, and clearcut sites in Fulton County must post a bond equal to 125% of replacement cost.
When no trees are present in the protected zone or when disturbance of any portion of the protected zone is approved, it shall be the responsibility of the owner/developer to revegetate said areas (in which improvements are not constructed) with trees or other plant materials subject to zoning regulations or, in lieu thereof, administrative standards established by the community development department.(c)Notwithstanding any of the other requirements of these regulations, it shall be unlawful to remove a specimen tree without the express written permission of the city arborist or authorized agent. Administrative standards have been established by the director of the community development department for the identification, preservation and protection of specimen trees. (Ord. No. O2006-12-27, ch. 14, art. 8, § 5, 12-19-2006)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Johns Creek's tree preservation ordinance (Chapter 109, Article VII), once tree removal from a protected zone is approved, or when no trees exist there, the owner or developer must revegetate the disturbed area with trees or other plant materials meeting zoning regulations or community development department standards. For projects the city approves for full-site clearcutting, the department separately requires a performance bond equal to 125 percent of the estimated tree replacement cost under § 109-201(b); if a clearcut site sits idle for six months and the owner doesn't respond to a certified-mail inquiry within 30 days, the city draws on the bond to revegetate the property in Fulton County, Georgia.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted removal without required revegetation is enforced by the community development department; the director can withhold permits, including certificates of occupancy, until the site is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to replace trees removed during construction in Johns Creek?
What happens if a developer clearcuts a lot and abandons the project?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johns Creek
Compare Johns Creek to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle tree removal & heritage trees.