Birmingham, AL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Birmingham codifies tree work in Title 6 (Health and Environment), Chapter 5 (Trees and Shrubs). Section 6-5-2 defines 'tree surgery work' as 'the work of cutting, trimming, pruning or removing trees or shrubs in any manner whatsoever,' and section 6-5-1 bars any person from willfully or maliciously cutting, destroying, removing or injuring 'any tree, plant or shrub, planted or preserved for shade or ornament in any public street or square or in any yard, ground or park belonging to the city or to any individual inhabitant of the city' without proper authority. Sections 6-5-3 and 6-5-4 require commercial tree surgeons to haul waste cuttings, trimmings, prunings and cut trees to a city dump and to file a daily report of any cuttings left on private land. The City's Code Enforcement Resource Guide reinforces this for residents: they are told to 'Make sure tree removal and building contractors are properly hauling away tree limbs and construction debris,' and Environmental Code Enforcement treats 'tree trimmings and any other debris' left in a yard as a violation that 'must be disposed of properly.' Bulk limbs are picked up on the resident's scheduled bulk-trash day. Public and street trees in the right-of-way are managed by the Department of Public Works Horticulture and Urban Forestry Division (report issues via 311), and Birmingham's Zoning Ordinance (Appendix D) adds tree-protection standards. The chapter cites Code of Ala. 1975, section 9-13-21 (cutting or mutilating trees) as the state-law reference.