Birmingham, AL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

The Urban Forestry and Tree Commission, created under Sec. 2-5-311, maintains the city's official list of tree and shrub species approved for planting and those unsuitable for the city, on file with the city clerk under Sec. 2-5-316. That species list works alongside the hard dimensional rule in Sec. 2-5-317: no tree with a mature height over 25 feet may go in the ground under or within 10 lateral feet of an overhead utility wire, or over or within 5 lateral feet of an underground water line, sewer line, transmission line, or other utility.

Sec. 2-5-318 gives the city the right to plant, prune, maintain, and remove trees, plants, and shrubs within streets, alleys, rights-of-way, and other public grounds whenever needed for public health, safety, and welfare or to preserve their appearance. Because the city controls that ground, Sec. 2-5-319 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to trim or top a tree or shrub on public property or in the public right-of-way without a permit from the department of planning, engineering and permits. Public utilities get an annual permit for routine line-clearance work; everyone else must apply describing the specific work and the reason for it, and the department can grant or deny the request based on how the trimming fits the city's overall tree plan.

Permittees must follow the commission's trimming standards on file with the city clerk; work that departs from those standards can cost the permit through revocation or suspension. Separately, Sec. 2-5-320 puts a duty on the owner of any tree overhanging a street or right-of-way to remove dead, diseased, or dangerous limbs that threaten public safety, and Sec. 2-5-321 lets the city remove hazardous or diseased trees on private property at the owner's expense after 60 days' written notice if the owner does not act.