Do you need a tree removal permit in Augusta, GA?

For some trees. Augusta requires a permit for certain trees or certain sites, not every tree. Augusta's Tree Ordinance (Chapter 8-4) mainly applies to development, and its text exempts building a single-family home on an individual lot. Designated Landmark Trees need a permit before removal, and removing a tree in the public right-of-way needs Tree Commission approval. The version we read is dated January 2017, so confirm the current text with the city. Our confidence: medium. Short explanation, not legal advice.

Landmark Trees: the Augusta Commission may designate a tree on the owner's petition after Tree Commission review. A Landmark Tree may not be destroyed or endangered except as the Tree Commission recommends, and removal needs a permit from the Planning and Development Department. Development that needs a site plan must meet tree protection and canopy rules.

Any request to remove a tree on a public right-of-way goes to the Augusta Tree Commission. If approved, the city posts a notice on the tree for 14 days and notifies the neighborhood association, if any. Tree Commission decisions are final.

For trees in the public right-of-way, trees the Tree Commission or the right city department finds are a danger to the public or nearby property are exempt from the approval step and can be removed. A Landmark Tree removal permit can be granted when the tree is diseased, injured, in danger of falling or creates unsafe sight distance. The city's code enforcement FAQ says dead or dangerous trees on private property fall under its nuisance code; live trees and overhanging limbs are treated as a civil matter between neighbors.

Landmark Tree removal permits come from the Planning and Development Department through the Tree Commission (535 Telfair Street, Suite 300; (706) 821-1796). Variance and appeal requests use the Tree Ordinance Variance Request form on the Tree Commission page.

The 2017 ordinance fines $1,000 per tree for removing or destroying a 3 to 5 inch caliper public tree on city property or right-of-way, plus a replacement tree. For larger public trees the fine is $1,000 plus the appraised value of the tree. Removing a Landmark Tree without a permit brings civil penalties under Chapter 8-4-19.

HOA rules can be stricter; check yours. Read your HOA covenants or ask the board before work starts.

Your address, the tree species if you know it, the trunk width measured about 4.5 feet above the ground, photos of the whole tree, and whether it is near the street, a sidewalk or a power line. Ask if a permit is needed and how long it takes.

Some do and some do not. Ask before you sign, and get it in writing who applies and who pays the fee. In many places the property owner is the one responsible for following the rules.

No. It is a short, plain summary of public rules with links to the official sources. For a firm answer on your property, ask the city or a local attorney.