Atlanta, GA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected size threshold
- 6" DBH (12" for pines)
- Eased species examples
- Callery pear, Chinese holly, tree of heaven
- Enforcing agency
- City Arborist, Dept. of City Planning
- First illegal-removal fine
- $500 per tree destroyed
- Invasive list authority
- Tree Conservation Commission approves updates
Summary
Atlanta protects trees by size, not species: any tree 6 inches DBH or larger (12 inches for pines) needs a city arborist permit to remove, with replacement or recompense required. Invasive species like Callery pear get a lighter removal track and owe no recompense.
(a)Healthy, non-invasive trees. Regulated healthy, non-invasive trees require replacement and/or recompense when destroyed or removed.(b)DDH trees are those that have been determined by the city arborist to meet the criteria for removal as dead, dying, or hazardous. DDH trees do not require replacement and/or recompense when removed.(c)Invasive and undesirable tree species are those that have demonstrated traits that are detrimental to the long-term health of the city's urban forest. The city arborist maintains a list of invasive and undesirable tree species. These species do not require replacement and/or recompense except on sites that no longer meet site density after seven or more undesirable species are removed as described in Section 158-47(g). (Ord. No. 2025-19(24-O-1691), § 1, 6-24-25; Ord. No. 2026-03(26-O-1015), § 11, 2-11-26)
Full Breakdown
Atlanta's tree code (Ch. 158, Art. II) treats species as a trigger for eased regulation, not full protection. Any "regulated tree", non-pine 6+ inches DBH or pine 12+ inches DBH, needs a city arborist permit to remove and generally requires replacement planting or monetary recompense. Species on the city arborist's invasive/undesirable list (Callery pear, Chinese holly, tree of heaven, and others updated with Tree Conservation Commission approval) can be removed under a simpler permit with no replacement or recompense owed, unless seven or more are removed at once and site tree density falls short.
Violations & Fines
Illegally destroying a regulated tree draws a $500 fine for a first violation and $1,000 for each later one, with each tree counted as a separate offense, plus mandatory replacement or recompense under Sec. 158-86.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Atlanta name specific tree species as protected?
Which species get easier removal in Atlanta?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
Compare Atlanta to another location·View the Georgia tree protection overview
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle protected tree species.