Charleston requires replacement trees or fee-in-lieu payments when permitted trees are removed, with replacement caliper tied to the size of the tree removed and species suitability requirements.
When the City Arborist permits tree removal, mitigation under Charleston Code §54-411 typically requires planting replacement trees at 1:1 caliper inches for non-Grand Trees and higher ratios for Grand Trees. Replacement species must come from the city's approved list of native and climate-adapted trees, including live oak, southern magnolia, bald cypress, and longleaf pine. If on-site replacement isn't feasible, applicants pay into the tree fund at a per-inch rate, which the city uses to plant trees on public right-of-way and parks. Replacement trees must survive at least two years.
Failure to plant required mitigation trees or pay fee-in-lieu: bond forfeiture, additional fines, and refusal to issue future tree permits until cured.
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See how Charleston's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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