Sandy Springs, Georgia

Find your regulatory agency for Tree Removals:​
Within city limits: Georgia City Limits Map​
Within county limits: Atlanta Counties Map

Tree Removal Permit Required: YES

Key Submission Items:

• ​Tree survey of all trees property (location, species, size, landmark/protected/buffer status)
• Site map of all trees on property and tree(s) for removal (aerial image or drawing).
• (If within stream/river buffer) Indication of area within 2,000ft of Chattahoochee River and/or within a required stream buffer.
• (If DDH) Photos or Certified Arborist assessment of tree prior to removal.

Submission Portal: You can apply for a permit online at Build Sandy Springs. Build Sandy Springs is where you can complete your application, submit supporting documents, pay invoices, and view your current permit status.​

City Website: https://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/community-development/tree-removal

• Tree Removal Permits are required for individual tree removals that are one of the following:
       - Any tree 18" Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) or larger​
        - Any Dogwood or Redbud 10″ DBH or larger
       - ​Any tree located within the Chattahoochee River Corridor (2,000’ from the banks of the Chattahoochee River)​
       - Any tree located a within a Stream Buffer (the 75′ protection corridor along designated streams and bodies of water)
• Dead, Dying, and Hazardous (DDH) trees do not require a permit, but submission of photos or an arborist’s assessment of the tree is required.
• All properties are subject to minimum canopy coverage requirements for Protected Trees. Residential properties must meet 35% minimum canopy coverage on site. Nonresidential, commercial, and industrial must meet 40% canopy coverage on site.
• When a proposed removal of Protected Trees causes a site to fall below minimum canopy coverage requirements,  the applicant must pay into the City's Tree Fund AND replant new trees to bring the site into compliance.
• At least one Replacement Tree must be planted for every Protected Tree removed. The removal of Landmark Trees, regardless of the amount of canopy coverage provided on the property, requires replacement plantings at 1.5 trees per every Landmark Tree removed.
• An assessed value of $1,200 per 1,000 square feet of canopy will be used when canopy requirement fall below the minimum.

Landmark Tree Definition​:
‍Hardwoods > 27” DBH ​
‍Pines > 30” DBH ​
‍Dogwoods and redbuds > 10” DBH (in fair or better condition)

‍Protected and Buffer/Setback Tree Definitions​:
Protected Tree = 18” DBH or larger, other than a Landmark Tree or Setback Tree, in fair or better condition. ​Buffer/Setback Tree = A tree 18” DBH or larger located in the minimum required setbacks of any property.

Dead, Dying, Hazardous (DDH) Definition​:
‍A tree posing immediate hazard or danger to a person or property due to imminent failure in part or whole.

‍​Contact the Sandy Springs City Arborist at 770-730-5600 or reach out via email at arborist@sandyspringsga.gov.

Return to Gunnison Tree Services