Auburn, AL Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Auburn's tree-permit requirement targets public trees, not private ones. Under the City's urban-forestry program and the Municipal Tree Ordinance (Ordinance #1875), "if the tree is located on City right of way, you must obtain a Street Tree Permit for any removal or pruning." When a resident asks to remove a city-owned street tree, the City requires a risk evaluation first: "Tree Risk Assessment must be requested and conducted before a Street Tree Removal Permit is issued." The assessment follows International Society of Arboriculture standards and examines crown, branch, trunk and root defects. Outcomes drive the decision: extreme-risk trees are removed immediately, high-risk trees are monitored annually, and low- to medium-risk trees are retained unless they pose a demonstrable danger. Residents request inspections through Public Works or the City's Fix-It App, with assessments typically scheduled within about two weeks. When a street tree is removed, replacement is conducted during the dormant season and completed by February 1, reflecting Auburn's Tree City USA commitment. By contrast, "trees on private property are not regulated by the City of Auburn," so homeowners generally need no city permit to remove their own trees, although a proposed ordinance update extending tree protection to private property has been discussed and could change this. The Tree Commission oversees these public-tree rules. Always confirm whether a tree sits in the right-of-way (often the strip near the street) before assuming no permit is needed.