Columbus, GA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDO § 4.6.12(F)
- Protected tree types
- Beautification Plan, Public Protected, Exceptional Specimen
- Permission needed
- City Arborist, or Tree Board on appeal
- Definitions
- UDO Chapter 13 (§ 13.1.1)
- Emergency exception
- Imminent danger or utility restoration
Summary
Columbus, Georgia bars cutting, damaging or killing a protected tree, a Beautification Plan Tree, Public Protected Tree or Exceptional Specimen Tree, without City Arborist or Tree Board permission under the Unified Development Ordinance.
Any Beautification Plan Tree or Public Protected Tree or Exceptional Specimen Tree may only be cut with permission of the City Arborist or in the event of his denial, the Tree Board. Any Beautification Plan Tree or Public Tree which poses imminent danger to the public health, welfare or safety or any tree that needs to be removed on an emergency basis to restore public utility service may be removed with specific permission, authorization and approval from either the City Arborist, the Public Works Director, City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Mayor, Chief of Police or Chief of Fire and EMS. (Ord. No. 19-013, § 1, 3-26-19)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
UDO Section 4.6.12(F) makes it a violation to cut down, remove, damage or destroy, directly or indirectly, any protected tree, defined in Chapter 13 as a Beautification Plan Tree, a Public Protected Tree (six-inch DBH or larger on consolidated-government land, rights-of-way, parks or easements), or an Exceptional Specimen Tree the Tree Board designates for size, age, historic association, ecological value, or state, national or world champion status. Removal requires prior permission from the City Arborist, or the Tree Board if the Arborist denies the request, except for trees posing imminent public danger or blocking emergency utility restoration, which named officials may authorize removing directly.
Violations & Fines
Cutting, damaging or killing a protected tree without Arborist or Tree Board authorization is a violation of the Article, backed by the tree-protection enforcement scheme's stop-work authority, permit revocation and per-day penalties for ongoing violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a protected tree in Columbus, Georgia?
Can a homeowner remove a protected tree themselves?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
Compare Columbus to another location·View the Georgia tree protection overview
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