Baton Rouge requires licensed arborists for regulated tree work and mandates replacement trees when protected trees are removed. Title 9, Chapter 11 governs arborists; the Unified Development Code (Title 7) sets landscape and tree-replacement standards for development projects.
Title 9 (Licensing, Registration, and Occupational Codes), Chapter 11 (Arborists), §9:496 of the EBRP Code of Ordinances requires that tree removal and major pruning work on regulated trees be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed arborist. The Unified Development Code (Title 7) requires replacement planting when trees are removed as part of development; replacement ratios are based on caliper inches of trees removed. Heritage or champion trees may require additional mitigation. Permits from the Department of Development/Planning are required prior to removal of protected-size trees. Proposed legislation before the Metro Council in 2024 sought to further strengthen replacement requirements for large residential lots.
Unpermitted removal of protected trees may result in fines and mandatory replacement planting. Fines for code violations can reach $500 per day until compliance is achieved.
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See how Baton Rouge's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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