Tree removal permit rules in Lee County, AL — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
You can remove trees on your own property in Lee County without a permit — Auburn confirms private-property trees are not city-regulated, and Alabama has no statewide tree law. Only trees in the public right-of-way need city approval.
Removing a tree on private residential property is unregulated across Lee County. Alabama has no statewide tree-protection law, the county runs no tree-removal permit program, and Auburn states outright that trees on private property are not regulated; Opelika's tree program likewise governs public trees. The exception is the public right-of-way: a street tree or one on city land belongs to the city, and in Auburn you need a Street Tree Permit before it is pruned or removed. Utilities may also manage trees threatening power lines. For a large or leaning tree near a structure, a certified arborist assessment is money well spent.
No county or city penalty for removing your own yard trees. Removing a city-owned street or right-of-way tree without Auburn's Street Tree Permit violates city rules and can bring restitution.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Lee County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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