Gordon County, GA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Where it applies
- New Echota Overlay District, east of Interstate 75
- Large tree
- 8-foot tree lawn, 60 feet spacing
- Medium tree
- 5-foot tree lawn, 40 feet spacing
- Small tree
- 3-foot tree lawn, 20 feet spacing
- Frontage buffer
- 15 feet wide, one tree per 30 feet of frontage
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 or 60 days per violation
Summary
In unincorporated Gordon County, tree lawn and spacing standards apply to new commercial development inside the New Echota Overlay District, east of Interstate 75 along State Highway 225, Craigtown Road and Newtown Church Road. A large tree needs an 8-foot tree lawn, a medium tree 5 feet and a small tree 3 feet, plus a 15-foot landscaped buffer with one tree per 30 feet of frontage.
i.A landscaped buffer having a minimum width of fifteen (15) feet is required along the entire length of any property line abutting a public right-of-way, residential uses or any residential or rural zoning district. There shall be one (1) tree for every thirty (30) feet of lot frontage along said property line.ii.Tree placement shall follow the guidelines established in Table 4.02.01(C)(3)(1) Guidelines to Avoid Conflicts with Infrastructure. Table 4.02.01(C)(3)(1) Guidelines to Avoid Conflicts with Infrastructure MATURE SIZE LARGE 50—70 FT. MEDIUM 30—40 FT. SMALL 15—20 FT. EVERGREEN 40—50 FT. Minimum Width of Tree Lawn (area required for planting) 8 Feet 5 Feet 3 Feet Yards Only Spacing Between 60 Feet 40 Feet 20 Feet 30 Feet Overhead Utilities Do Not Plant Acceptable Acceptable Do Not Plant Distance from Signs, Utility Poles, Driveways, Fire Hydrants 10 Feet 10 Feet 10 Feet 30 Feet Distance From Intersection 30 Feet 30 Feet 30 Feet 30 Feet Distance From Underground Utilities 5 Feet 5 Feet 5 Feet 5 Feet
Full Breakdown
The Unified Land Development Code puts the tree lawn table in Section 4.02.01, the site design standards for the New Echota Overlay District. The district covers all property east of Interstate 75 abutting or adjacent to State Highway 225, Craigtown Road, and Newtown Church Road, as shown on the Gordon County Official Zoning Map. The table sits under the commercial development standards, so it reaches new commercial development and existing commercial lots that need a sign or building permit. Development in a Rural or Residential Zoning District is left out, and the standards are waived for a renovation or addition that costs less than fifty percent of the ad valorem tax value on the current digest.
The buffer rule comes first. A landscaped buffer at least 15 feet wide runs along any property line that abuts a public right-of-way, residential uses or a residential or rural zoning district, with one tree for every 30 feet of lot frontage. Table 4.02.01(C)(3)(1) then sorts trees by mature size. Large trees, 50 to 70 feet at maturity, need an 8-foot tree lawn and 60 feet of spacing. Medium trees, 30 to 40 feet, need 5 feet and 40 feet of spacing. Small trees, 15 to 20 feet, need 3 feet and 20 feet of spacing. Evergreens, 40 to 50 feet, go in yards only, 30 feet apart. Large trees and evergreens are marked Do Not Plant under overhead utilities, while medium and small trees are Acceptable. Every category stays 30 feet from an intersection and 5 feet from underground utilities. Distance from signs, utility poles, driveways and fire hydrants is 10 feet for large, medium and small trees and 30 feet for evergreens.
The Resaca Battlefield Overlay District repeats the same table in Section 4.02.02. Section 4.07.04 adds separate planting rules: canopy trees cannot go under overhead utility lines or over buried utilities, and Bradford Pear is prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Violations are heard in the Magistrate Court of Gordon County under Section 10.05.01. Section 10.05.04 sets the penalty at a fine not to exceed $1,000 or 60 days imprisonment, or both, for each violation, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. The County Administrator enforces the Code, and no further County permits or inspections are issued until violations are corrected and accepted. No certificate of occupancy is granted until corrective actions are complete or a performance bond is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the tree lawn table apply to a house in unincorporated Gordon County?
How far apart must large shade trees be planted?
Can a large tree be planted under overhead power lines?
Who reviews a design inside the New Echota Overlay District?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gordon County
Compare Gordon County to another location·View the Georgia tree protection overview
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