Gwinnett County, GA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- ISA pruning practices required
- Duty holder
- property owner or HOA
- Applies to
- required street trees only
- Scope
- unincorporated Gwinnett County only
- Enforcement
- UDO Chapter 120
Summary
Owners of unincorporated Gwinnett properties with required street trees must trim and prune them to International Society of Arboriculture standards, keeping trees healthy along non-residential road frontages under UDO Chapter 620.
E.Street trees shall be cared for and maintained by the owner of the property on which they are located, except in developments where the property owners association provides maintenance and care.F.A Right-of-Way Encroachment Maintenance Agreement shall be provided by the developer for street trees located within the right-of-way.G.A maintenance responsibility statement shall be provided on the Final Plat that describes who is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of street trees and trees located in common areas.H.When a Final Plat is not required the maintenance responsibility statement shall be provided on the Site Development Plan.I.Street tree maintenance shall include replacement and pruning as necessary. Pruning and tree management shall be in accordance with standards of the International Society of Arboriculture.J.The Director is hereby authorized to grant a modification for street tree location and genus and species variation. (Ord. No. UDOA2023-00002(GCID 2023-0604), Exh. A(§ 43), 9-26-2023)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Where Section 620-40 requires street trees along non-residential road frontages, the property owner is responsible for their upkeep once installed, except where a property owners' association maintains common areas. Maintenance duties include replacement and pruning as necessary, and all pruning and tree management must follow International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards, not ad hoc topping or trimming by whoever mows the lot. The UDO doesn't set a numeric overhead clearance figure for streets or sidewalks; it instead ties maintenance quality to the ISA professional standard.
Violations & Fines
The Department of Planning and Development can order diseased, dying, dead, or damaged required landscaping replaced; owners who let street trees go unpruned or fail to meet ISA maintenance standards are out of compliance with the UDO's continuing landscape duty, enforced under Chapter 120.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to trim street trees in unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Is there a set clearance height for tree limbs over Gwinnett streets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
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