Homeowners across Lee County can prune their own yard trees without a permit — Auburn states plainly that private-property trees are not city-regulated. Trees in the public right-of-way need a permit, and Alabama lets you trim a neighbor's overhang to the property line.
You can trim or prune trees on your own property anywhere in Lee County. The City of Auburn puts it directly: trees on private property are not regulated, so no permit is needed for pruning or removal on your lot, and Opelika likewise focuses its tree program on public and street trees. A tree in the public right-of-way is different — Auburn requires a Street Tree Permit before anyone prunes or removes it. Under Alabama's self-help rule you may cut a neighbor's branches back to the property line at your own expense, but don't cross the line or kill the tree. Structural pruning before summer storm season protects roofs and power lines.
No county penalty for pruning your own trees. Pruning or removing a right-of-way tree without Auburn's Street Tree Permit violates city rules, and killing a neighbor's tree can bring a civil claim.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Lee County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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