Auburn, AL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 17-64(5) of the Municipal Tree Ordinance states that no person shall engage in the pruning or topping of trees on any public property except in conformance with the most current practices of the International Society of Arboriculture, the National Arborist Association Standards, and the National Electric Safety Code. This applies to any tree the city defines as 'protected' under Section 17-63, meaning any tree located on public property, city parks, or public rights-of-way, not to trees on private lots. Because Section 17-64(4) separately makes it unlawful to 'alter' a protected tree without first obtaining a permit, pruning or topping work on a city tree generally runs through the same permit process set out in Section 17-65, under which the reviewing department weighs the tree's condition, the necessity of the work, and the impact on the surrounding tree canopy before signing off.

An exception exists for trees severely damaged by storms or other natural causes, and for trees growing under utility wires or other obstructions where standard pruning practices are impractical; those can be exempted from the article's requirements under Section 17-64(3). New curb cuts that would endanger a protected tree still need the city's express permission even where pruning alone is at issue, per Section 17-64(6). and staffed in part by the city's beautification and urban forestry supervisor, promotes tree-maintenance standards and can recommend removal of trees found to be dead, dying, diseased, or infested under Section 17-67(d).