Tree removal permits

Tree Permits

Many municipalities in and around Atlanta require specific permitting prior to any tree removal. Through years of application and compliance, we have cultivated a wealth of knowledge as well as built relationships to professionally and efficiently gain approval for your projects, whether it be on your behalf to municipalities or HOA boards. We’d be glad to assist you with the permitting process for a small fee or if you would prefer to handle the permitting yourself, here are some valuable resources for common municipalities:

City of Alpharetta
GIS MAP

• Application
• Ordinance:  A Tree Removal Permit Application must be submitted to the City of Alpharetta and approved prior to the removal of any tree that is alive from single family residential properties within the City limits.
• Point of Contact: David Shostak, City Arborist, dshostak@alpharetta.ga.us, 678-297-6229

City of Atlanta

To determine whether address falls within city of Atlanta jurisdiction, you can refer to the zip codes in the points of contact section. If you have trouble with the address pulling up in Accela when initiating the application call or email the corresponding arborist to confirm the address is within their jurisdiction.

• Application
• Process: After applying through Accela, send pictures documenting the trees to the Arborist contact which corresponds with the zip code of job site. This corroborates the reason for removal on the application.
• Ordinance: A permit is not required for the removal of a tree or trees that have fallen or are being supported by another tree or structure. A permit is required when a tree “diameter at breast height (DBH) of six inches or more” needs to be taken down from private property in the City of Atlanta. However, the ordinance states you are allowed to remove trees less than six inches diameter at breast height from private property. If more than 6” DBH tree will need to be dead, dying, hazardous, or within 5 ft of structure.

Point of Contact:

• Gregory Ihle,  gihle@atlantaga.gov, 404-546-0184; inspects  the following Zip Codes: 30310, 30315, 30316, 30354, and 30312 (South of I-20)
• Jeremy O’Hearn, johearn@atlantaga.gov, 404-865-8464; inspects  the following Zip Codes: 30319, 30342, 30327
• Andrew Bedson,  jbedson@atlantaga.gov, 404-330-6601; inspects  the following Zip Codes: 30311, 30313, 30314, 30318, 30363, 30303, and 30312 (North of I-20)
• Peter Stovall,  psstovall@atlantaga.gov, 404-330-6077; inspects  the following Zip Codes: 30306, 30307, 30308, 30317, 30324, 30331
• Meghan Chuites,  mchuites@atlantaga.gov, 404-865-8892; inspects  the following Zip Codes: 30305, 30309, 30326

City of Brookhaven

GIS MAP

• Ordinance: A tree removal permit is required for removal of any tree greater than 6 inches Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). The removal of three six-inch DBH or greater trees, other than specimen trees, from an owner-occupied, single-family residential property within a single calendar year so long as a density factor of 60 DBH inches of trees per acre is maintained and provided a tree canopy reduction notice (with no fee) for documentation purposes is obtained from the community development department said tree reduction notice shall expire within 180 days and no extensions shall be granted.

*Make sure to take note of lot size and estimate number of trees remaining – as this info is required in the permit application.

• Application
• Process: After filling out application, make sure to attach a picture of each tree to be removed, site sketch, and an arborist’s letter verifying any dead, dying, diseased, and/or insect-infested trees. These items need to be attached as soon as the application is submitted – missing documents will put the application back to the bottom of the list to be processed.

City of Kennesaw

GIS Map
Above is the map of city limits – if you are unable to use this map to determine whether the property address falls within the city limits you can call Kennesaw Public Works to check the address for you: 770-421-8582

• Application: You can either submit the application in person or via email to publicworks@kennesaw-ga.gov.

*Top Tier Trees and all affiliates are not responsible for any of this information that may be updated since the creation of this blog post.