Decatur, AL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Section 2-432(a) sets the planting rules for anyone other than the city. Written permission from the forestry program comes first. The application is picked up at the parks and recreation maintenance office and submitted to the forestry program, and all planting in the public right-of-way must comply with the city's adopted design standards. Street trees are planted according to their height and spread within the parkway strip of a street, and shrubs cannot be planted to a height that is inappropriate or hazardous for the site. A subdivider must show the species and size of proposed street trees on a landscaping plan submitted with the tentative subdivision plan. Trees along street frontages in a public or private right-of-way are matched to the site and must conform to the current City of Decatur tree list in the adopted design standards, and alternative species are considered case by case.

Timing and aftercare are written into the permit. Trees are planted during winter and early spring. The city arborist or a designee can inspect for the correct number, type and health of the trees. The planting permit includes watering at least weekly through one or two summers and more often in times of severe heat. The permit also determines when the trees are established, and after that point maintenance responsibilities follow the Decatur Municipal Code.

The code defines street trees to include new plantings that the city has not authorized, so an unpermitted tree still falls under city control (Sec. 2-424(a)). Owners of property abutting city right-of-way cannot prune street trees in the right-of-way (Sec. 2-424(b)). Abusing, destroying or mutilating a city tree, including attaching signs, posters or wire to it, is a separate violation (Sec. 2-434).