Glynn County, GA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Tree Canopy Preservation Ordinance § 624.6
- Protected
- All county-owned trees (ROW, parks, government land)
- Who may act on them
- Only Glynn County itself
- Root-zone exemption
- 50-ft+ road ROW separation
- Review body
- Tree Board, 60-day recommendation
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, escalating $500-$900 fines
Summary
Every tree growing on Glynn County property, including road rights-of-way, parks, and government buildings and yards, is a protected tree under the Tree Canopy Preservation Ordinance. Only the county itself may cut, remove, move, prune, or damage one; anyone else who does risks the ordinance's misdemeanor penalties.
624.6Protection of Glynn County Trees.(a)All trees growing on Glynn County property, including public streets rights-of-way, Glynn County offices and facilities, parks and recreation areas, and all other public areas, shall be protected trees. It shall be unlawful for any person other than Glynn County to cut, remove, move, prune, damage or cause the death of any Glynn County tree or to engage in any of the activities described in subsection 624.5(c) within the tree protection zone of any such tree; whether or not the tree protection zone extends onto adjacent private property. ... Glynn County Tree means any tree whose trunk is growing wholly or partially on land in which Glynn County has a property interest, including, but not limited to, public street rights-of-way, parks, and building and facility yards.
Full Breakdown
When a development requiring a Tree Plan sits on a site where a Glynn County tree's structural root zone extends onto the property, the owner must actively protect that tree during construction and passively protect it for the tree's life, following the same fencing and root-zone standards used for canopy-credit trees. In exchange, the owner earns tree canopy credit for the open soil dedicated to preserving the county tree. The duty extends to a county tree adjoining the site within the public right-of-way, whether or not its root zone crosses onto private land, but it drops away if the county tree's trunk is separated from the site by a public or private road right-of-way at least 50 feet wide. When a proposed Tree Plan involves a Glynn County tree, the county's Tree Board reviews it and must deliver a recommendation within 60 days, or the plan is deemed recommended for approval by default.
Violations & Fines
Cutting, removing, moving, pruning, or damaging a Glynn County tree without authorization is a misdemeanor under Section 624.10, carrying escalating minimum fines of $500, $750, and $900 for a first, second, and third-or-later offense, plus a required replacement tree equal to 125 percent of the caliper lost. Liability reaches the property owner and any architect, builder, contractor, agent, or tenant who commits or assists in the violation, and the Planning and Zoning Director can issue a stop-work order or withhold a certificate of occupancy until compliance is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim a tree growing in the road right-of-way next to my house?
Do I get credit for protecting a county tree that overhangs my lot?
Is there any exception to protecting a county tree next to my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glynn County
Compare Glynn County to another location·View the Georgia tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.