Arborist Division

The Tree Ordinance provides for the preservation, establishment, and maintenance of the tree canopy on public and private land in the City of Atlanta by prohibiting the destruction and removal of trees except as allowed in the articles of the ordinance. Tree ordinance enforcement from the Arborist Division is intended to protect and preserve trees.

The ordinance allows for enforcement through an array of tools such as:

• Correction Notices (verbal or written, to correct practices that are detrimental to a tree’s health and or its structural integrity);
• Silvicultural Prescriptions (required remedial actions such as fertilizing, pruning, soil amendments and treatments, pest management, etc.);
• Stop Work Orders (to prevent /minimize further tree impact and for corrective actions to be taken to save the tree);
• Tree Save Fences (to keep construction and other activities out of the tree’s Root Save Area);
• issuance of Illegal Tree Removal/Destruction Recompense citations; and
• Five-year survivability reports, among others.

Any one or a combination of the above tools can be implemented by a field arborist to save or preserve trees.  

The steps for an illegal tree destruction action vary depending on the level and stage of destruction of the tree. The steps/tools for resolution in order of severity are: verbal correction notice; written correction notice; illegal tree removal citation.

Enforcement is handled on a case-by-case basis, as some instances may warrant immediate issuance of a citation or both correction notices and citations. The issuance of illegal destruction or illegal removal citations do not correlate directly or indirectly with saving and preserving trees. Citations are used as a last resort or in situations where trees are damaged beyond repair. The issuance of citations allows for the collection of recompense and penalty fees. These monies are used to replant trees on both public and private property.

Valid appeals must provide evidence based on the City of Atlanta's Tree Ordinance that a city administrative official misinterpreted or misapplied the ordinance or facts material to an issued decision. For information on how to file a tree appeal, see the Tree Conservation Commission or call 404-330-6235.

To report a problem or complaint regarding trees (illegal activity or destruction, dying trees on private property, improper construction fencing, etc.), please email arborist.dpcd@atlantaga.gov or call 404-330-6874.

A record will be created in Accela Citizens Access (ACA) for tracking purposes. You can check status by calling us or logging into ACA.