The Chattanooga Tree Ordinance protects public trees and regulates development land clearing. Removing a public/right-of-way tree requires city arborist approval. New developments must account for 36 inches of tree caliper per acre or pay into the Chattanooga Tree Bank at 125% of planting cost.
Chattanooga's Tree Ordinance (City Code Chapter 32, Article XIII), overhauled in 2025, prohibits removing or disturbing any public tree without a permit and requires replanting when removal is unavoidable. For development, owners must, per acre developed, account for 36 inches of tree caliper (about 18 new trees) by replanting, preserving existing caliper, or contributing to the Chattanooga Tree Bank at 125% of planting cost. Developments near residential areas must maintain buffer trees for at least three years. Homeowners removing trees on their own private property generally need no permit. Public-tree permitting runs through Urban Forestry and the city arborist. Unincorporated Hamilton County has no separate private-tree removal permit but applies stormwater/erosion rules to land disturbance.
Removing a public tree without a permit, or clearing development land without meeting caliper requirements, may result in fines and mandatory replacement costs under the Tree Ordinance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Hamilton County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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