Georgia Tree Removal Permit Requirements — Augusta-Richmond County

The Short Answer: When Do You Need a Permit in Augusta?

For most Augusta homeowners on standard residential lots, the answer is: probably not — with one important exception.

The Augusta-Richmond County Tree Ordinance — What It Is

Augusta-Richmond County regulates tree removal through a dedicated Tree Ordinance, last substantially updated in January 2017 and administered by the Augusta Planning & Development Department. The ordinance is separate from Georgia's state-level tree law and covers Augusta-Richmond County specifically.

The ordinance has two primary purposes: (1) protecting the urban tree canopy during development — requiring that new development maintain or replace tree cover — and (2) protecting Landmark Trees, which are formally designated specimens of historic, aesthetic, or unique value.

For most homeowners performing standard residential tree removal on their own property, the ordinance's development canopy requirements are not directly triggered — the residential lot exemption covers most typical scenarios.

The Residential Exemption (Most Homeowners)

Under the Augusta-Richmond County Tree Ordinance, residential property owners on lots of 1 acre or less are exempt from permit requirements, provided:

• No more than 5 trees are removed per calendar year from the property
• None of the trees being removed is a designated Landmark Tree

This exemption covers the vast majority of standard residential removal situations in Augusta — including the typical homeowner removing a dead loblolly pine, a storm-damaged water oak, or trees too close to a structure. If you have a normal suburban lot and are removing a non-Landmark tree, you are very likely exempt from any permit requirement.

Emergency and Hazardous Tree Exemptions

Augusta's ordinance recognizes that tree emergencies require immediate action. Emergency removal exemptions apply when a tree is:

• Dead, actively dying, or structurally compromised (hollow trunk, major rot, significant lean)
• Damaged by a storm event and actively threatening a structure, vehicle, or person
• A disease vector at risk of spreading to neighboring healthy trees
• Fallen on private property (fallen trees do not require advance authorization)

For storm emergencies specifically — tree on your roof, tree blocking emergency access, large limb actively threatening an occupied structure — you do not need to wait for permit approval. Get the hazard removed first. For public utility or right-of-way situations, contact Georgia Power (1-888-891-0938 for emergencies) or Augusta Engineering in addition to calling a contractor.

After the emergency is resolved, if there is any question about whether a permit would normally have been required, contact Augusta Planning & Development to confirm you are in compliance.

What Are Landmark Trees? Can You Remove One?

A Landmark Tree in Augusta-Richmond County is a tree formally designated by the Augusta Tree Commission (a city body) and confirmed by the Augusta Commission as having:

• Notable historic interest — trees associated with historically significant events or properties
• High aesthetic value — exceptional specimen trees visible in public or semi-public settings
• Unique character based on species, type, age, or size — unusually large, old, or rare specimens

Once designated as a Landmark Tree, it is treated as a public landmark. The ordinance provides that Landmark Trees "shall not be destroyed nor endangered except as recommended by the Augusta Tree Commission." The Tree Commission must approve any removal.

Most residential trees are not Landmark-designated. If you have a very large, very old specimen tree — particularly in an older neighborhood like Summerville, Forest Hills, or Harrisburg — it is worth confirming its status before authorizing any work. A licensed arborist or a quick call to Augusta Planning & Development can confirm designation.

Development Projects and the Tree Canopy Requirement

The ordinance's canopy requirements primarily affect development projects — new construction, additions, lot clearing, and similar activities that trigger the development review process. If you are a homeowner undertaking a development project (adding a structure, subdividing a lot, commercial construction), the canopy rules apply differently from the residential exemption above.

The ordinance requires that development projects maintain trees with a minimum of 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) on the property where feasible, and mitigation (replacement planting or a fee-in-lieu payment) may be required when significant trees must be removed for development. The Planning & Development Department administers this process.

If you are undertaking a development project and removing trees as part of it, engage the Augusta Planning & Development Department early in the project — permit requirements are determined at the development review stage.

Right-of-Way Trees: City Property

Trees located in the public right-of-way (the strip of land between your property line and the street, including street trees planted in sidewalk zones) are city property. Augusta Engineering is responsible for right-of-way trees.

Do not remove, prune, or damage right-of-way trees without city authorization. Contact:

• Augusta Engineering Department — for right-of-way tree issues, including storm-fallen right-of-way trees blocking streets
• Augusta Planning & Development at (706) 821-1796 — for tree ordinance questions and Landmark Tree status

After Hurricane Helene, Augusta Engineering managed the removal of approximately 17,000 fallen trees from city rights-of-way over several months. Homeowners are not responsible for initiating this removal, but should report downed right-of-way trees to the city rather than attempting removal themselves.

Storm-Damaged Trees: The Permit Question After a Major Event

After Hurricane Helene and other major CSRA storm events, many Augusta homeowners faced a practical question: "I need this damaged tree removed immediately — do I need a permit first?" The answer in most cases is no.

Storm-damaged and hazardous trees are exempt from the standard permit process. If a tree is on or threatening your structure, or is actively dangerous, get it removed and worry about permit compliance confirmation afterward. The emergency exemption exists precisely for this situation.

For trees that were damaged but are not actively dangerous — a cracked leader, a partially uprooted tree still standing, a tree that lost major limbs but is structurally present — these can be assessed by a licensed arborist to determine whether they are "hazardous" for purposes of the exemption, and removed accordingly.

The contractors in our network navigate Augusta's permit requirements regularly and can advise on whether your specific removal triggers any ordinance requirement.

State-Level Georgia Tree Law Context

Georgia does not have a statewide tree removal permit requirement. Tree regulation in Georgia is handled at the municipal and county level, meaning Augusta-Richmond County's ordinance is the applicable law for properties within its jurisdiction. Properties in adjacent jurisdictions (Columbia County, Aiken County SC, Burke County) are subject to their own separate ordinances, if any — each jurisdiction is different.

Some general Georgia points relevant to homeowners:

• Georgia law generally holds that a property owner can remove trees on their own land, subject to local ordinances like Augusta's
• Trees on or near property lines can involve shared responsibility — if a neighbor's tree falls on your property, liability generally depends on whether the tree was known to be hazardous
• Georgia Power line-clearance rights allow the utility to trim trees that threaten distribution lines, independent of homeowner preferences
• ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification is a recognized standard for tree service professionals in Georgia; the Augusta ordinance requires ISA-certified arborists for certain permitted work

How to Confirm Current Requirements

Tree ordinances are amended periodically. The January 2017 version of the Augusta-Richmond County Tree Ordinance is the most recent publicly documented version, but requirements may have been updated since then. Always confirm current requirements before any work: