Mountain Brook requires 2:1 or 3:1 replacement for permitted tree removals. Birmingham requires replacement of street trees removed during construction. Jefferson County new development typically requires canopy preservation. Approved species favor native varieties like white oak, red oak, tulip poplar, and magnolia. Fee-in-lieu available in some jurisdictions.
Mountain Brook Code Β§129-10 requires 2:1 replacement for permitted removal of protected trees and 3:1 replacement for Landmark Trees with removal approval. Replacement trees must meet minimum caliper standards (typically 1.5 to 3 inch caliper depending on original tree size) and be planted from an approved species list emphasizing native Alabama hardwoods - white oak (Quercus alba), southern red oak (Q. falcata), willow oak (Q. phellos), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Pine species common to Alabama (loblolly, shortleaf) are typically accepted but with reduced counting toward hardwood replacement. Replacement trees must be planted on the same property when feasible, or a fee-in-lieu paid to the Mountain Brook Tree Fund (typically $500 to $2,000 per tree). A maintenance period of 2 years ensures establishment with replacement of any dead trees during that window. Birmingham street tree replacement follows standards set by the City Arborist through Parks and Recreation. New subdivision developments in Hoover PUDs (Greystone, Ross Bridge, Lake Crest) typically require canopy preservation and street tree planting. Alabama Cooperative Extension System provides guidance on replacement species selection appropriate for climate zones 7b and 8a across Jefferson County.
Failure to replace per Mountain Brook ordinance: $500 to $5,000 per missing tree plus required planting. Fee-in-lieu non-payment: lien on property. Dead replacement tree not replaced within 2-year period: additional $500 penalty per tree. Non-native invasive species planted: removal order.
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