Rock Hill, SC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Section 28-62 of the 'Public Trees' article requires a permit for five specific acts affecting any public tree: removing, altering, or treating it; planting or transplanting it; attaching a sign, poster, or other object to it; tunneling or trenching within ten feet of its base on city-owned property; and, within its dripline, stockpiling material, running heavy equipment, changing soil grade, or otherwise damaging its roots enough to harm its health or structural integrity. The forester, appointed by the city manager under § 28-31, must issue or deny the permit in writing once the applicant signs and submits an application describing the location, number, size, and species of the trees involved, the purpose of the work, and the methods to be used, and agrees to follow ANSI A300 industry pruning and tree-care standards.

If work performed under a permit does not comply with the chapter or ANSI A300 standards, the forester can void the permit, order a stop-work notice, refer the applicant for penalty, and have city crews correct the work at the applicant's expense. Utilities and roadway contractors get an annual permit option for routine pruning and trenching, and subsection (e)(5) waives the permit requirement temporarily for minor emergency work needed to safely repair a dangerously damaged utility, so long as the utility later reports the work to the forester. Removing a public tree without any permit at all is handled individually rather than under the annual utility permit process.