Tree Removal Rules Homeowners Miss in Peachtree City

Thinking about taking down a tree in Peachtree City? A quick cut can lead to unexpected fines, delays, and neighbor headaches if you miss a rule. You want to protect your home and your budget, and understanding the city’s process helps you do both. In this guide, you’ll learn when a permit is required, how to measure your tree correctly, what paperwork the city expects, and the pitfalls most homeowners miss. Let’s dive in.

Do you need a permit?

If you plan to remove a tree, start by measuring trunk size and identifying the species type. Peachtree City uses DBH (diameter at breast height) and treats understory and canopy trees differently. The city’s rules outline when removal crosses into permit territory.

• Understory trees: Permit required at 8 inches DBH or larger. Bradford pear is excluded from understory specimen protection. See the city brochure.
• Canopy trees: Permit required at 18 inches DBH or larger. Review permit rules.
• Specimen trees: Extra protections apply. Examples and thresholds:
  • Hardwood specimen at 20 inches DBH and up (Sweetgum often noted at 24 inches DBH).
  • Softwood (pine, cypress) at 24 inches DBH and up.
  • Understory specimen at 8 inches DBH and up (Bradford pear excluded).

What usually does not need a permit: routine pruning that does not kill the tree and removing undergrowth outside protected areas. City guidance explains the exceptions.

How to measure DBH

• Wrap a tape measure around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground to get circumference.
• Divide circumference by 3.14 to find DBH.
• For multi-trunk trees, follow the city’s method in the Tree Removal Brochure.

Species examples to self-check

• Understory: dogwood, redbud, and similar smaller species.
• Canopy: oak, pine, and other full-size shade trees.

When specimen trees can be removed

Specimen trees are protected. Removal is allowed only in specific situations:

• The tree is dead, dying, or diseased. The city may ask for an arborist letter. Permit guidance.
• It sits within an approved building footprint for a permitted project.
• It poses an immediate safety hazard. Emergency removals are addressed in the city brochure.
• It must be removed for utility work.
• You claim economic burden and contribute a recompense fee to the City Tree Fund. The current application shows $25 per caliper inch. Always confirm the latest amount on the Tree Removal Permit application, since older web text referenced $20 per inch.

Where removal is restricted or prohibited

Before you cut, confirm where the tree stands and whether special buffers apply.

• City-owned greenbelts and parks: Cutting on city property is prohibited and brings steep penalties. If you are unsure a tree is on your lot, contact the city first. Tree permit page. Local coverage shows Peachtree City has tightened enforcement for greenbelt violations (WSB report).
• Environmental buffers: Trees within stream or wetland buffers, watershed protection areas, conservation easements, or tree-save buffers cannot be removed. Check if your lot lies within 200 feet of a stream, lake, or wetlands. City guidance.
• Large site work: For development or land-disturbing projects, additional state and local rules apply. Review the permit application and related land development requirements before you start. Application checklist.

How to apply in Peachtree City

Submit everything through the city’s online portal. Paper or email submissions are not accepted. Start here.

1. Complete the application: Use the official Tree Removal Permit form. Download it here.
2. Take photos: Include clear photos of each tree and the trunk measurement used to calculate DBH.
3. Create a tree list: Note species, DBH, location, reason for removal, and distance to property lines.
4. Add a site sketch: Show tree locations and property lines. If a tree sits within 5 feet of a property line, the city may require a neighbor approval letter or a licensed surveyor’s tree survey.
5. Include approvals: If your neighborhood requires it, upload written HOA approval. The city maintains a list of HOAs that must sign off. Permit page.
6. Provide contractor documents: Your tree contractor must supply a current business license and proof of general liability and workers’ compensation insurance before a permit is issued.
7. Submit online and track: Keep copies of everything for your records.

Fees you should expect

• Permit fee: The application lists $15 per tree. Confirm on the current form.
• Recompense (healthy specimen trees): The application shows $25 per caliper inch paid to the City Tree Fund. Because some web text still references $20 per inch, confirm the current amount on the permit form or with Planning & Development.

Replanting may be required if you remove all trees on a property. City materials vary on minimum size and number, so confirm the current replanting standard with Planning & Development. Permit page.

Avoid these common mistakes

• Cutting first, asking later: Removing a protected tree or cutting in a greenbelt can lead to citations and fines. Verify ownership and buffers before work. City guidance.
• Skipping HOA approval: Some subdivisions require HOA sign-off. The HOA can enforce its rules even if the city issues a permit.
• Mis-measuring DBH: Measure at 4.5 feet high and use circumference divided by 3.14. See the city’s diagram in the brochure.
• Hiring unvetted contractors: The city requires contractor licensing and insurance. Ask for proof and references before you hire. Application checklist.
• Not documenting disease or hazard: If a specimen tree does not clearly look compromised, get an ISA-certified arborist letter to avoid delays.

HOAs, neighbors, and property lines

Some neighborhoods require HOA approval before the city will review your permit. Start that conversation early.

If a tree is within 5 feet of your property line, the city may request a neighbor letter or a survey by a licensed surveyor to confirm ownership. When branches or roots cross your side of the line, Georgia law generally lets you trim from your property up to the boundary, but you should not trespass. Boundary-tree disputes can be nuanced, and damages may be involved if illegal cutting occurs. For legal background, review a Georgia case summary like Klingshirn v. McNeal and consult an attorney for advice on your situation.

When to call a pro

• Arborist: Call if you need documentation that a tree is dead, dying, or hazardous. The city may require an arborist letter, especially for specimen trees.
• Attorney: If you face a boundary dispute or a neighbor conflict that you cannot resolve, legal guidance can help you avoid liability.

Selling soon? Protect curb appeal and compliance

Smart tree work can boost curb appeal, but Peachtree City’s rules come first. If you are planning pre-listing improvements, align your timeline with the permit process to avoid delays. For local guidance and a connected, neighbor-first real estate team, reach out to Intown Focus Realty.

FAQs

Do I need a tree removal permit in Peachtree City?

• You likely do if your understory tree is 8 inches DBH or larger, your canopy tree is 18 inches DBH or larger, or the tree qualifies as a protected specimen; check the city guidance.

How much are permit and recompense fees in Peachtree City?

• The application lists a $15-per-tree permit fee and $25 per caliper inch for healthy specimen removals; confirm the latest amounts on the current application.

Can I trim my neighbor’s tree in Georgia?

• You may trim branches and roots that encroach onto your side up to the property line without trespassing, but legal issues can arise if the tree is damaged; review Georgia case law like Klingshirn v. McNeal and consider legal advice.

What if the tree is in a Peachtree City greenbelt?

• Do not cut; trees on city-owned greenbelts or parks are protected and cutting can trigger steep penalties; verify ownership through the Tree Permits page.

What documents does the city require with my application?

• Expect photos with DBH measurements, a tree list, a site sketch with property lines, HOA approval if required, neighbor approval or a survey for trees within 5 feet of a line, and contractor license and insurance shown on the application checklist.