Atlanta, GA · Fulton County
Tree removal in Atlanta
In the City of Atlanta, you need a permit to remove any tree 6 inches in diameter or larger on private property, including dead trees. Permits come from the Office of Buildings' Arborist Division, and approved removals usually require replacement planting or payment into the Tree Trust Fund. Emergencies have a process too, so contact the city before cutting whenever you can.
Atlanta's canopy is unusually dense for a large city, and many in-town neighborhoods such as Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland and Kirkwood have towering oaks, tulip poplars and pines over bungalows and craftsman homes. Water oaks and red oaks planted or left in the early 1900s are now large, old and often decaying.
Thunderstorms with straight-line winds are the most frequent cause of emergency calls, with occasional tropical-storm remnants and ice. Because permits are required even for dead trees, residents often combine an arborist assessment with the permit application.
Reviewed and updated
Atlanta's tree ordinance, in practice
- A permit is required to remove, destroy or injure any tree 6 inches DBH or larger on private property in the City of Atlanta, regardless of species or condition. Dead trees require a permit too.
- Permits are handled by the Department of City Planning, Office of Buildings – Arborist Division. Removals typically require replacement trees or recompense to the Tree Trust Fund.
- Cities outside Atlanta (Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta and others) have their own rules.
Sources (checked 2026-10-01)
Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.
Thunderstorms, aging oaks and tall pines in Atlanta
Strict tree ordinance
Permits for private trees 6 inches and larger, including dead trees, with replacement or recompense.
Aging oak canopy
Century-old water and red oaks in older neighborhoods develop decay and drop limbs.
Tall pines
Loblolly pines over houses snap or uproot in wind; beetles attack drought-stressed pines.
Thunderstorms and tropical remnants
Straight-line winds and remnants of Gulf storms bring widespread tree failures.
In-town oaks at the end of their lifespan
Many of the big oaks over Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland and Inman Park were planted or left standing when those neighborhoods were built about a century ago. Water oaks and southern red oaks in particular are reaching the age when internal decay becomes common.
That doesn't mean they should all come down. It means they need regular inspection, and that it's smart to plant their replacements now, in a spot where a young tree can grow while the old one is still standing. Because Atlanta's ordinance requires a permit even for many dead or dying trees, documenting an aging tree's condition before it becomes an emergency also makes the permit step easier.
Water oaks, willow oaks, tulip poplars and pines
- Water oak and southern red oak
- Aging, decay-prone; common failures
- White oak and willow oak
- Long-lived, valued shade trees
- Tulip poplar
- Very tall; limb drop
- Loblolly pine
- Storm and beetle risk
- Sweetgum
- Common; surface roots and seed litter
Tall pines in Atlanta yards
Loblolly pines left standing between houses are one of the most common worries in Atlanta. Signs that a pine needs a closer look:
- A lean that's new or getting worse, especially with soil lifting on the opposite side.
- Needles browning from the top down, or small pitch tubes on the bark from bark beetles.
- A long lightning scar running down the trunk.
- Roots cut by a new driveway, addition or sewer line within the last few years.
Narrow, steep in-town lots
In-town lots are narrow and steep in places, with houses, fences and overhead lines close together. Sectional removals with rigging, and cranes for large trees, are common.
On sloped lots, wood often has to be lowered downhill and carried out, and cranes need a stable setup on the street. Ask whether the quote includes handling the city permit, and who is responsible for any notice the city requires before work starts.
Atlanta services and how they connect to the permit
Every removal over the size threshold goes through the city permit first.
An arborist's report supports dead, dying or hazardous tree permits.
Storm-damaged trees on houses; ask the city how it handles permits for emergency removals.
Deadwood and roof clearance on big oaks, which keeps more of the canopy.
After permitted removals; plan where replacement trees will go.
Atlanta questions: dead trees, storms and lines
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Atlanta?
Yes. Atlanta requires a permit for trees 6 inches DBH or larger on private property regardless of condition, including dead trees.
What if a tree falls on my Atlanta house during a storm?
Safety first. Emergency removal of a tree that has failed onto a structure can proceed, but contact the Arborist Division as soon as practical so the removal is documented.
Who handles trees on power lines in Atlanta?
Georgia Power maintains clearance around its distribution lines. Report any tree touching a line to the utility and stay well back; a tree company can deal with the rest of the tree once the line is safe.
Calls are routed to independent local tree-service providers. How calling works
More local guides
Need tree help in Atlanta?
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.