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.
See how Columbus's protected tree species rules stack up against other locations.
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