Tree Removal Permits in Augusta, GA

Verified against Augusta city sources · last checked 2026-08-06

Do you need a permit?

No permit required for most private trees

Augusta has a full tree ordinance, but its permit machinery is bolted to development rather than to homeowners. The permit instrument is a "Tree Disturbance Permit," issued as part of a Land Disturbing Permit, and section 8-4-13(b) expressly exempts "Construction (including clearing) of single-family residential structures on individual lots" from "any and all provisions of this Ordinance." On an ordinary residential lot with no site plan there is no diameter threshold and no published homeowner application. Four things still bite: right-of-way trees, designated Landmark Trees, trees installed to satisfy a previously approved site plan, and the licensing of whoever you hire.

Size threshold

No diameter threshold applies to an ordinary homeowner, because the permit rides on a land disturbance permit. The 6-inch figure exists only inside the development framework: section 8-4-20(1) reaches "Any protected trees, on land issued a Land Disturbing Permit for development, which is six inches (6") DBH or greater." A "Significant Tree" is separately defined as "A tree 10" in diameter or greater at DBH, except for Live Oaks which are considered significant at 8" DBH."

What's protected in Augusta

Landmark Trees — "Any tree determined by the Tree Commission and the Augusta Commission, to be of notable historic interest, high aesthetic value, or of unique character because of species, type, age, or size and therefore designated as a public landmark." Designation begins with the property owner's own petition, and once designated the tree "shall not be destroyed nor endangered except as recommended by the Tree Commission."
Protected Trees — "all public trees and all trees conserved or planted to meet the requirements (regardless of size), and all trees six inches (6") diameter at breast height (DBH) and greater on a site to be developed."
Tree Lawn trees — "That part of a street or highway, lying between the property line and that portion of the street or highway usually used for vehicular traffic." This is right-of-way. Homeowners routinely assume it is theirs.
Streetyard trees — section 8-4-13(d)(5): "As of January 2003, any existing streetyard tree may not be cut or removed without permission of the Director."
Trees shown on a previously approved site plan — section 8-4-14: these "may not be removed or altered without prior approval of the Planning Director." This is the sleeper risk in newer subdivisions and townhome developments.

How to apply in Augusta

1
For an ordinary tree on your own residential lot there is nothing to apply for. Augusta publishes no homeowner tree removal application.
2
For a tree in the public right-of-way, section 8-4-5(a): "Any request for the severing from the stump and removal of a tree on a public right-of-way shall be directed to the Augusta Tree Commission for approval." If approved, the city notifies the neighbourhood association and posts a notice on the tree for fourteen days. Tree Commission decisions are final.
3
For a Landmark Tree, section 8-4-11(a)(1): "A person requesting to remove a Landmark tree must obtain a permit from the Planning and Development Department by Tree Commission before the tree removal activities commence. A start date for removal must be given."
4
For a variance, submit a written request to the Director by the first Monday of the month, with a hardship narrative and supporting exhibits, plus the $300 fee. The Tree Commission meets the third Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December at 4:00 pm.

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee: There is no published fee for a residential tree removal permit, because no such permit exists. Section 8-4-4(b) leaves fees to the Augusta Commission and no Planning and Development tree fee schedule is published. Published figures that do exist: a $300.00 Tree Commission variance fee; a $500 per required tree Landscape Establishment Bond; in-lieu mitigation of "two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) per diameter inch of the tree(s) removed or damaged"; and $500 per diameter inch for a landmark tree.
Penalties: Section 8-4-19: "All persons, firms or corporations failing to comply with the mandatory provisions hereof or doing any act prohibited hereby shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Chapter 1-6-1 of the Augusta Code. Each day such violations continue shall be considered a separate offense." Section 1-6-1 sets a fine up to $1,000.00 or up to 60 days, or both. On public property, "Trees of three inch to five inch (3"-5") caliper will be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) per removed, damaged/destroyed tree, plus the cost for replanting." On development sites, "The penalty for the removal of or damage to trees, prior to the issuance of a Land Disturbance Permit shall be a civil penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per acre or fraction thereof."
Ordinance: Augusta-Richmond County Code of Ordinances, Title 8 (Planning and Zoning), Chapter 4 — Trees, sections 8-4-1 through 8-4-21. Ord. No. 7226, adopted February 1, 2011, amended Chapter 4 in its entirety; further amended by Ord. No. 7285, 9-6-2011 and Ord. No. 7562, section 2, 2-21-2017, which added the current penalty and mitigation regime. The Illustrated Guide to Implementing the Augusta Tree Ordinance, adopted by reference, was last amended February 2022.

Worth knowing

The tree service you hire is regulated even though you are not. Section 8-4-6(a): "It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of planting, cutting, trimming, pruning, spraying, or to otherwise treat trees, shrubs or vines on public or private property, within the City of Augusta, without first producing evidence of a business license." Section 8-4-7(b)(1) adds that companies working on private property "must have passed the City test for tree care qualifications or be a ISA Certified arborist, or be under the direct supervision, at all times while on the job site, of such an individual."
You can check a company against the Augusta Online Business License Inquiry, or call Construction, Permitting and Licensing at (706) 312-5050.
The city can force a removal and bill you for it. Section 8-4-9(c) covers trees "in an unsafe condition" or injurious to utilities "whether on public or private property," gives the owner 30 days, then lets the city remove the tree and "charge the cost of the removal on the property owners' property tax notice."
Storms are exempt. Section 8-4-9(b): "In case of emergencies, such as windstorms, or other disasters, the removal of broken limbs or uprooted trees, using proper Best Management Practices (BMP) practices, shall be allowed during the emergency period."
Topping a public tree is banned outright, not permitted: "It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm, or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property."
Clear-cutting to dodge the ordinance carries a three-year development ban on the site under section 8-4-2.
The Tree Commission is thinly staffed — the city listed 7 of 12 seats vacant as of March 2025 — and it meets only six times a year, so right-of-way and landmark approvals are slow.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— Section 8-4-9(a) reads, flatly, "A Permit is required for removal of all public and protected trees," which on its face is broader than the development framework. Because "Protected Tree" is defined as trees "on a site to be developed" and section 8-4-13(b)(1) exempts single-family lots from the whole ordinance, the better reading is that it does not reach an ordinary homeowner. The ordinance is genuinely sloppy here. If your tree is large or unusual, call (706) 821-1796 before you cut.
— Section 8-4-11 is captioned "Removal of landmark trees on public property" but its body speaks generally about any Landmark Tree, and designation starts with a private owner's petition. Both readings are reported.
— No department email address. The city staff directory renders staff emails as empty links.
— Whether the City Arborist position named in sections 8-4-4(c) and 8-4-6(b) is currently filled. No such title appears in the current staff directory.
— Whether any ordinance adopted after December 7, 2021 amends Chapter 8-4. Municode's Augusta code is a recodification codified through Ord. No. 7807 of that date.
— The $300 variance fee comes from a form dated May 1, 2014 and may be out of date. No current Planning and Development fee schedule listing tree fees was found.

Sources

Who to contact in Augusta

Augusta Planning and Development Department — Planning Division

(706) 821-1796 Official page

535 Telfair Street, Suite 300, Augusta, GA 30901

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Size threshold

What's protected in Augusta

Landmark Trees — "Any tree determined by the Tree Commission and the Augusta Commission, to be of notable historic interest, high aesthetic value, or of unique character because of species, type, age, or size and therefore designated as a public landmark." Designation begins with the property owner's own petition, and once designated the tree "shall not be destroyed nor endangered except as recommended by the Tree Commission."

Protected Trees — "all public trees and all trees conserved or planted to meet the requirements (regardless of size), and all trees six inches (6") diameter at breast height (DBH) and greater on a site to be developed."

Tree Lawn trees — "That part of a street or highway, lying between the property line and that portion of the street or highway usually used for vehicular traffic." This is right-of-way. Homeowners routinely assume it is theirs.

Streetyard trees — section 8-4-13(d)(5): "As of January 2003, any existing streetyard tree may not be cut or removed without permission of the Director."

Trees shown on a previously approved site plan — section 8-4-14: these "may not be removed or altered without prior approval of the Planning Director." This is the sleeper risk in newer subdivisions and townhome developments.

How to apply in Augusta

1
For an ordinary tree on your own residential lot there is nothing to apply for. Augusta publishes no homeowner tree removal application.
2
For a tree in the public right-of-way, section 8-4-5(a): "Any request for the severing from the stump and removal of a tree on a public right-of-way shall be directed to the Augusta Tree Commission for approval." If approved, the city notifies the neighbourhood association and posts a notice on the tree for fourteen days. Tree Commission decisions are final.
3
For a Landmark Tree, section 8-4-11(a)(1): "A person requesting to remove a Landmark tree must obtain a permit from the Planning and Development Department by Tree Commission before the tree removal activities commence. A start date for removal must be given."
4
For a variance, submit a written request to the Director by the first Monday of the month, with a hardship narrative and supporting exhibits, plus the $300 fee. The Tree Commission meets the third Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December at 4:00 pm.

Fees, penalties, and the ordinance

Fee

There is no published fee for a residential tree removal permit, because no such permit exists. Section 8-4-4(b) leaves fees to the Augusta Commission and no Planning and Development tree fee schedule is published. Published figures that do exist: a $300.00 Tree Commission variance fee; a $500 per required tree Landscape Establishment Bond; in-lieu mitigation of "two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) per diameter inch of the tree(s) removed or damaged"; and $500 per diameter inch for a landmark tree.

Penalties

Section 8-4-19: "All persons, firms or corporations failing to comply with the mandatory provisions hereof or doing any act prohibited hereby shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Chapter 1-6-1 of the Augusta Code. Each day such violations continue shall be considered a separate offense." Section 1-6-1 sets a fine up to $1,000.00 or up to 60 days, or both. On public property, "Trees of three inch to five inch (3"-5") caliper will be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) per removed, damaged/destroyed tree, plus the cost for replanting." On development sites, "The penalty for the removal of or damage to trees, prior to the issuance of a Land Disturbance Permit shall be a civil penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per acre or fraction thereof."

Ordinance

Augusta-Richmond County Code of Ordinances, Title 8 (Planning and Zoning), Chapter 4 — Trees, sections 8-4-1 through 8-4-21. Ord. No. 7226, adopted February 1, 2011, amended Chapter 4 in its entirety; further amended by Ord. No. 7285, 9-6-2011 and Ord. No. 7562, section 2, 2-21-2017, which added the current penalty and mitigation regime. The Illustrated Guide to Implementing the Augusta Tree Ordinance, adopted by reference, was last amended February 2022.

Worth knowing

The tree service you hire is regulated even though you are not. Section 8-4-6(a): "It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of planting, cutting, trimming, pruning, spraying, or to otherwise treat trees, shrubs or vines on public or private property, within the City of Augusta, without first producing evidence of a business license." Section 8-4-7(b)(1) adds that companies working on private property "must have passed the City test for tree care qualifications or be a ISA Certified arborist, or be under the direct supervision, at all times while on the job site, of such an individual."
You can check a company against the Augusta Online Business License Inquiry, or call Construction, Permitting and Licensing at (706) 312-5050.
The city can force a removal and bill you for it. Section 8-4-9(c) covers trees "in an unsafe condition" or injurious to utilities "whether on public or private property," gives the owner 30 days, then lets the city remove the tree and "charge the cost of the removal on the property owners' property tax notice."
Storms are exempt. Section 8-4-9(b): "In case of emergencies, such as windstorms, or other disasters, the removal of broken limbs or uprooted trees, using proper Best Management Practices (BMP) practices, shall be allowed during the emergency period."
Topping a public tree is banned outright, not permitted: "It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm, or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property."
Clear-cutting to dodge the ordinance carries a three-year development ban on the site under section 8-4-2.
The Tree Commission is thinly staffed — the city listed 7 of 12 seats vacant as of March 2025 — and it meets only six times a year, so right-of-way and landmark approvals are slow.

What we could not confirm

We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.

— Section 8-4-9(a) reads, flatly, "A Permit is required for removal of all public and protected trees," which on its face is broader than the development framework. Because "Protected Tree" is defined as trees "on a site to be developed" and section 8-4-13(b)(1) exempts single-family lots from the whole ordinance, the better reading is that it does not reach an ordinary homeowner. The ordinance is genuinely sloppy here. If your tree is large or unusual, call (706) 821-1796 before you cut.
— Section 8-4-11 is captioned "Removal of landmark trees on public property" but its body speaks generally about any Landmark Tree, and designation starts with a private owner's petition. Both readings are reported.
— No department email address. The city staff directory renders staff emails as empty links.
— Whether the City Arborist position named in sections 8-4-4(c) and 8-4-6(b) is currently filled. No such title appears in the current staff directory.
— Whether any ordinance adopted after December 7, 2021 amends Chapter 8-4. Municode's Augusta code is a recodification codified through Ord. No. 7807 of that date.
— The $300 variance fee comes from a form dated May 1, 2014 and may be out of date. No current Planning and Development fee schedule listing tree fees was found.