Do you need a permit?
No permit required for most private trees
Columbus rewrote its tree chapter effective August 1, 2024, and the new code says plainly what it covers: "This chapter regulates trees on public property but recognizes that trees on private property are part of Columbus' collective urban forest." A Forestry permit is required to remove, prune or stump-grind a tree in a public street, park or public space — not a tree in your own yard. The permit is free.
What's protected in Columbus
- Any tree in a public street, park or public place — including the street trees in the tree lawn between the sidewalk and the curb, which are city property
- Trees within the Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) or Critical Root Zone of a public tree
How to apply in Columbus
- 1
Confirm the tree is a public tree. Street trees generally sit in the tree lawn, the strip between the street and the sidewalk, which is city right-of-way.
- 2
Hire a certified arborist. The city states the tree care company's certified arborist should submit the permit application.
- 3
Contact the City 311 Service Center at 614-645-3111 or 311.columbus.gov to request the permit and the inspection.
- 4
A city arborist inspects the tree or site before the permit issues.
- 5
The contractor must complete the work in compliance with every specification of the permit.
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Fee
- Free. Columbus Recreation and Parks states of the Forestry permit: "There is no fee to apply."
- Penalties
- Columbus City Code 912.99: "Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. Any such violation shall constitute a separate offense on each day the violation exists." Section 912.05(D) states strict liability is intended for the permit violations.
- Ordinance
- Columbus City Codes Chapter 912 — Trees and Shrubs; Columbus Tree Subcommission. Ord. No. 2800-2023, adopted December 11, 2023, effective August 1, 2024, repealed the former Chapter 912 and enacted this one.
Worth knowing
- CCC 912.02 limits the chapter: "The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all trees owned or under the control of the city except as otherwise specifically provided."
- CCC 912.08, Private Nuisance Trees, does reach private property: it is unlawful to let a tree stand that the Director has deemed a public nuisance — for example one that interferes with a public street, blocks a traffic signal or sign, or is damaged, diseased or a risk to public property.
- Forestry business hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For a non-life-threatening tree emergency after hours, the city directs you to call the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-4545.
- If the city removes a public tree, replacement runs at one caliper inch planted for every one DSH inch removed, or payment into the city Tree Fund where there is no suitable planting site.
- Columbus has over 125,000 street trees, and only Forestry staff and permit holders may work on them.
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.
- — Any diameter or species threshold. Columbus keys its permit to who owns the tree, not to how big it is.
- — Whether the Columbus zoning code (Title 33, or the 2024 Title 34 zoning code) imposes tree retention or landscaping obligations when a private lot is developed or redeveloped. We did not read those titles in full.
- — A direct phone number for the Forestry section. Both columbus.gov and 311.columbus.gov block automated access, so 614-645-3111 is the number the city publishes for all forestry contact.