Clayton County, GA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Hardwood threshold
- 24-inch DBH or larger
- Softwood threshold
- 30-inch DBH or larger
- Understory tree threshold
- 4-inch DBH or larger
- Density credit for saving one
- 2x assigned unit value
- Unauthorized removal penalty
- 8x unit value replacement
- Removal process
- Written plan required for administrator approval
Summary
Clayton County singles out large, old, or historically significant trees as 'specimen trees' for extra protection under Code of Ordinances Sec. 86-71. Qualifying hardwoods 24 inches in diameter or larger, softwoods 30 inches or larger, and understory trees four inches or larger get double density credit when preserved, and removing one without approval carries the ordinance's steepest replacement penalty.
Some trees on a site warrant special consideration and protection for conservation. These trees are referred to as specimen trees. The following criteria are used by the administrator to identify specimen trees. Both the size and condition criteria must be met for a tree to qualify, with the exception of trees designated as specimen trees for historic or cultural purposes. Size criteria. Large Hardwoods Trees: 24-inch DBH or larger, such as oaks, hickories, yellow poplars, sweetgums, etc. Large Softwoods Trees: 30-inch DBH or larger, such as pines, deodar cedars, etc. Understory Trees: Four inch DBH or larger, such as dogwoods, redbuds, sourwoods, etc.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' On condition, a specimen tree needs at least ten years of remaining life expectancy, a relatively sound and solid trunk without extensive decay, no more than one major dead limb for hardwoods, and no major insect or disease problem. ' Developers who successfully design around and save a specimen tree earn density credit worth twice the tree's assigned unit value under Sec. 86-73's tables, and the tree's critical root zone must be protected with hog-back or wire-back tree-save fencing on metal posts throughout construction.
Removing a specimen tree isn't automatic: a written plan or documentation explaining the reason for removal has to go to the administrator for approval first.
Violations & Fines
A specimen tree that legitimately cannot be saved must still be replaced 'with trees having three times the unit value of the tree removed with a minimum four-inch tree caliper.' Removing one without the administrator's review and approval raises that to 'eight times the unit value of the tree removed...or an equivalent payment to the tree bank fund,' and if there's no evidence of the tree's condition at removal, size alone decides whether it counted as a specimen. Violations are punishable under Sec. 86-67.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree a protected 'specimen tree' in Clayton County?
Can I remove a specimen tree from my property?
Is there a benefit to keeping a specimen tree instead of removing it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clayton County
Compare Clayton County to another location·View the Georgia tree protection overview
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