Birmingham requires permits for removal of street trees and trees of significant caliper on city property and in public rights-of-way under Title 12, with private-property removals largely unregulated except in historic-preservation overlays.
Title 12 of the Birmingham General Code governs streets, sidewalks, and public-property trees. Removal of any tree in the public right-of-way or on city park property requires a permit from Birmingham Park and Recreation Board or the Department of Transportation. Private-property tree removal is generally unregulated except in historic-preservation overlay districts like Five Points South and Highland Park, where the historic-review board may require approval for trees contributing to district character. The city maintains the urban forest inventory and prioritizes replanting in low-canopy neighborhoods identified through canopy-equity mapping.
Civil penalties of $200-$1,000 per tree removed without permit, plus required replacement at 1:1 or higher caliper-inch ratio determined by the city arborist.
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See how Birmingham's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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