Alabama designates no heritage or landmark trees by statute, and Madison County protects none in unincorporated areas. Huntsville, a longtime Tree City USA, guards heritage and specimen trees within its limits, but the county has no equivalent.
No county heritage-tree program exists in unincorporated Madison County, because Alabama passes no statewide tree-protection law and grants counties no authority to create one. The valley's mature oaks, hickories, and street canopy are protected only where a city ordinance reaches them. Huntsville, a Tree City USA that has run a tree ordinance and City Tree Commission since 1981, maintains a program that shields significant and heritage trees and the canopy along its historic streets. Outside city limits, a landmark oak on private land carries no legal protection and may be removed by its owner. HOA covenants occasionally protect specimen trees within a subdivision, but that is a private contract, not a county designation.
None in the unincorporated county, where no heritage designation exists. Damaging or removing a protected heritage tree inside Huntsville violates the city tree ordinance and draws municipal penalties and replacement requirements.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Madison, AL
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Madison, AL
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Madison, AL
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Madison, AL
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Madison, AL
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Madison, AL
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See how Madison's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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