Whether for landscaping your yard, protecting your home, or removing diseased trees, you might consider cutting down a tree for many reasons. Do you need a permit to cut down a tree? The answer depends on where you live. In Sandy Springs, Georgia, you can remove trees with and without a permit, depending on the tree. If you want to learn more about the tree removal process as a land owner, consider reading a blog below from a highly rated tree service in Sandy Springs.
Regulations for Tree Removal
A permit for tree removal is not required for cutting down a tree if it is one of three things: dangerous, dead, or defective. This means that any tree at risk of collapsing in on itself or onto another structure is fair for cutting down. However, this doesn’t mean you can just get a chainsaw and begin an ambitious DIY project.
To remove a tree, even without a permit, you’ll need to provide a description of the tree and an arborist report to the City Arborist in Sandy Springs. An approved arborist certified by the ISA can ensure that the tree is dead or hazardous before reviewing documentation and deciding whether the tree will fall. If you want to remove a tree, you’ll need a permit for any of the following:
- Redbud trees with 10” diameter at breast height (DBH) or larger.
- Dogwood with 10” DBH or larger.
- Any tree within 2000 feet of the Chattahoochee River.
- Any tree near a stream of water.
Tree Cutting Permit Requirements
Do you need a permit to cut down a tree in your own back yard? If you want to cut down a tree within the above parameters, you must fulfill a few requirements. Anyone who owns property does business or lives in Sandy Springs is eligible for tree felling authorization. Just the same as trees that don’t require a permit, you’ll need to submit a description, photos, and the location of the tree you wish to cut down.
A tree-cutting permit requires that applicants conform to the minimum canopy requirement. This means that if you want a tree to come down, there needs to be sufficient shade for all buildings near the tree after it is gone. If the tree desperately needs to come down but still breaks this canopy rule, you can bring the tree down for a price. By donating to the Sandy Springs tree fund, you can provide a replacement tree for the one you cut down.
Why Hire a Professional?
Permitting for tree cutting can be a tricky ordeal because it centers on having arboreal expert knowledge. For instance, if you fell a tree that’s a landmark or a tree of significant historical importance, the city may require compensation for the coverage lost. Understanding which trees are protected and which aren’t is a job for professionals who can help you describe and pave the way to getting a permit.
So, do you need a permit to cut down a tree on your property? The answer varies by tree. Once approved, the rest of the process depends on the expert arborist you pick for the job. DIY tree removal is bad because it requires a certain level of know-how, training, and experience and can be very dangerous for anyone but a professional. Contact the experts if you want to remove a tree from your property in the safest possible way. SoutheastTree is available at 770-977-8733 (TREE) for professional and prompt tree removal, pruning, and trimming services.