Columbus protects street and park trees under City Code Chapter 911 (Trees and Shrubs) and Recreation and Parks Department rules. The City Forester reviews removals, prunings, and plantings within the right-of-way, and special protections apply to heritage and parkland species.
Columbus City Code Chapter 911 vests the Recreation and Parks Director and City Forester with authority over trees in the public right-of-way, parks, and street tree lawns. Removal, topping, or substantial pruning of street trees requires a permit from the City Forester, with replacement-tree conditions following Recreation and Parks tree-replacement schedules. Parkland trees are managed under the Parks Master Plan and Tree Inventory. Columbus participates in the Tree City USA program. The Branch Out Columbus initiative funds expanded canopy in priority neighborhoods identified through the Urban Forestry Master Plan, addressing canopy-equity gaps in lower-income areas. Private-property trees are not directly regulated except where they affect the right-of-way or violate nuisance provisions under Title 21.
Unpermitted removal of a street tree under Columbus CCC 911 brings restitution at appraised tree value plus replacement requirements, enforced by Recreation and Parks. Park-tree damage adds civil liability and potential misdemeanor charges. Private-property trees largely lack city protection.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Columbus, OH
Columbus Fire Code Title 25 incorporates the International Fire Code Chapter 61 governing propane and LP-gas storage. Residential cylinders are limited in si...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no city ordinance regulating year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays at single-family properties. The Title 33 Graphics Code ...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no zoning, building, or graphics-code provision specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. The Title 33 Graphics Code exem...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no city ordinance restricting when residents may install or must remove holiday lights at single-family homes. The Columbus Graphics Code (Title...
Columbus, OH
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Columbus require permits from the Department of Building and Zoning Services when they involve gas-line extensions, electrical w...
Columbus, OH
Columbus has no ordinance specifically targeting backyard smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens at single- or two-family homes. General nuisance provis...
See how Columbus's protected tree species rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.