Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
Charleston does not require a removal permit for trees under 24 inches in diameter on single-family or duplex residential lots. At 24 inches DBH and up the tree is a "Grand Tree" and needs a permit. The city inspects before approving — Grand and Protected trees are approved for removal when they are hazardous, diseased, irreparably injured, or damaging a habitable building in a way that cannot be fixed without taking the tree.
Size threshold
Grand Tree: "Any tree twenty-four inches (24") or greater in diameter at 4.5' above the grade (D.B.H.) excluding pine trees or sweet gums." Protected Tree: "Any tree eight inches (8") or greater D.B.H., except multi-stem crepe myrtles."
What's protected in Charleston
- Grand Trees — 24" DBH or greater, excluding pines and sweet gums
- Protected Trees — 8" DBH or greater, except multi-stem crepe myrtles
- Trees in critical line buffers, which cannot be removed
How to apply in Charleston
- 1
Submit a Tree Removal Request through the city's online Form Center.
- 2
Give the property address and TMS number, applicant and owner contact details, and the tree's species, diameter, location, and the reason for removal.
- 3
Attach supporting documentation such as photos or an arborist report.
- 4
Mark every tree you are asking to remove with ribbon or tape so the inspector can identify it.
- 5
A tree inspection request is completed first. After the inspection, if the tree meets the city's tree removal standards, a permit is issued.
Worth knowing
- The exemption is specific: "Trees under 24" D.B.H. on lots that are zoned Single-Family Residential or Single and Two Family Residential or used exclusively for single-family or duplex dwellings do not require a permit for removal."
- Commercially zoned properties and properties with three or more dwelling units must maintain at least 15 protected trees per acre to avoid the permit requirement.
- Pruning a Grand or Protected tree does not require a permit, but the work must follow the National Arborist Association's Pruning Standards for Shade Trees and be done by a qualified service.
- Charleston's tree removal request form warns that removing a Grand Tree without a permit can result in a municipal summons carrying a fine and/or jail time. Confirm the current penalty with Citizen Services before you cut.
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.
- — The permit fee, if any.
- — How long the inspection takes — the city does not publish a turnaround time.
- — The exact ordinance section number; the city's tree page does not cite one.
- — Replacement or mitigation requirements after an approved Grand Tree removal.