Cobb County designates specimen trees at 24" DBH (hardwood) or 30" DBH (pine). Heritage/specimen trees cannot be removed without variance from Cobb Tree Ordinance Administrator. Protected root zone (1 ft per 1" DBH) must be fenced during construction.
Cobb County's Tree Preservation Ordinance (§134 Art. XXII) singles out 'specimen' trees — hardwoods with DBH of 24 inches or greater and pines with DBH of 30 inches or greater — for enhanced protection. Historically significant, rare-species, and exceptional-canopy trees may also be designated. Removal requires written variance approval from the Cobb County Tree Ordinance Administrator and, if construction-related, from Community Development. Replacement for specimen-tree removal is typically 3:1 to 4:1 using a density calculation in caliper-inches. During construction, a Critical Root Zone equal to 1 foot of radius per 1 inch DBH must be fenced with high-visibility construction fence; no grading, storage, parking, or trenching inside the CRZ. Oaks and hickories, slow to re-establish, are prioritized for preservation. Residents can nominate trees for historic/champion tree status through Keep Cobb Beautiful and the Cobb Board of Commissioners.
Removing specimen tree without variance: $500 per inch DBH plus 3:1 to 4:1 replacement. CRZ damage during construction: per-offense fines $1,000–$10,000 + remediation. Repeat or flagrant: stop-work and permit revocation.
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