Charleston requires permits to remove protected trees on private property, including any tree 8 inches DBH or larger in many districts, with mitigation tied to caliper inches removed.
Beyond the Grand Tree designation, Charleston Code §54-411 requires permits for removal of any tree 8 inches DBH or larger on most residentially-zoned property and any tree 12 inches DBH or larger on commercial or industrial parcels. The City Arborist reviews permits and considers tree health, hazard, location, and species. Mitigation is typically 1:1 caliper inch replacement or fee-in-lieu at the city tree fund rate. Tree protection fencing during construction is mandatory; root zone disturbance counts as removal. Suburban parts of the metro (Mt Pleasant, North Charleston) maintain similar rules.
Unpermitted removal: $100-$1,000 per inch DBH, mandatory replacement at multiple of caliper, stop work orders, and possible criminal misdemeanor for willful violation.
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See how Charleston's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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