CanICut.comGuidesCut a Tree Without a Permit in Atlanta? Here's What It Can Cost You
By CanICut.com · Published & last updated
That big oak shading your driveway looks like a weekend project. A crew can drop it in an afternoon. But in much of metro Atlanta, cutting the wrong tree without a permit can cost you far more than the tree job. You could face per-tree fines and replacement fees, a stop-work order on your renovation, and a building permit that stalls until it's all paid. Before anyone starts a chainsaw, here's what's actually on the line, taken straight from the local ordinances.
City of Atlanta: the stakes went up on January 1, 2026
Atlanta's rewritten Tree Protection Ordinance (Atlanta Code Chapter 158, Article II) took effect January 1, 2026, and was amended again in February 2026. The ordinance defines an "illegally removed tree" simply as any tree removed or destroyed without a permit. "Destroyed" is broad. It covers more than felling. Grading or trenching over more than 20% of the critical root zone counts. So do removing more than 20% of the live crown and girdling the trunk. Topping or other improper pruning is deemed destruction too.
If you're caught, you can owe three separate things.
1. Fines, counted per tree. The ordinance sets a fine of no less than $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Each tree is a separate violation. If the city can't tell how many trees were cut, for example because the lot was cleared, it can assess a fine by area instead. The 2026 rewrite doubled that area fine from $100,000 to $200,000 per acre, prorated for smaller lots.
2. Recompense: the real sticker shock. Separate from the fine, you can owe recompense for the tree itself. As of January 1, 2026, Atlanta's recompense rate is $140 per diameter inch of trunk, and it adjusts each year for inflation starting in 2027. A single 30-inch oak works out to 30 × $140, or $4,200 in recompense alone, before any fine. If only a stump is left, the city measures the stump. The ordinance does let you offset recompense by planting replacement trees, with credit at 1.25 times the caliper inches you plant. You still have to buy and plant those trees.
3. Stop-work orders and corrective orders. The City's Arborist Division can issue correction notices, required remedial treatments, stop-work orders, tree-save fences and illegal removal citations. A stop-work order on an active project means your contractors sit idle while the clock and the bills keep running.
Who's on the hook: you or the tree company?
Often both. Atlanta's ordinance has long treated the property owner and any contractor or agent who commits or assists in a violation as each guilty of a separate offense. Since 2026, tree service companies working in Atlanta must also register with the City Arborist. A company that violates the ordinance can be suspended from that registry. (See our guide to hiring a tree company in Atlanta.) The lesson is simple. "My tree guy said it was fine" isn't a defense. If no permit was issued, you can be cited too.
Outside the city limits, it's no safer
Sandy Springs. Removing a protected tree without complying with the ordinance triggers an assessment of $7,500 per 1,000 square feet of canopy removed, paid into the city's Tree Bank. Every owner of the property is jointly and severally responsible. Each act and each day of violation counts separately. The city can issue a notice of violation, a stop-work order and a citation. It won't issue a certificate of occupancy until you comply.
Decatur. Removing a protected tree without a Tree Removal Permit is a violation. Once the city is notified, a stop-work order shall be issued and stays in effect until the violation is resolved. Decatur can also withhold your certificate of occupancy, revoke or revise permits and issue a court citation. On top of regular penalties, the Municipal Court can order replacement of up to twice the canopy of the removed tree, along with canopy-loss fees or Tree Bank payments.
Unincorporated DeKalb County. Each tree removed or killed in violation of the county's tree ordinance is a separate offense. Penalties follow the county's general penalty section: up to $500 when the citation is served by notice, or up to $1,000 and/or up to 120 days in jail when it's personally served. County guidance also says certificates of occupancy won't be approved until recompense and fines are paid. Unpaid fines can block new county permits tied to the property. Trees damaged during construction must be replaced, and specimen trees at 1.5 times the inches lost.
Roswell. Removing a specimen tree without a permit requires a contribution of $1,000 per tree density unit to the Roswell Tree Bank. If the tree's size can't be documented, the city can measure the stump or assume a size. Roswell's code also allows separate fines for code violations, with each day counted as its own violation.
Other cities, including Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Alpharetta and Marietta, set their own rules and penalties. Always check the specific jurisdiction your address is in.
The hidden cost: your building project stalls
The fine is often the smallest problem. Across these jurisdictions, an illegal removal can freeze the project you actually care about:
- Stop-work orders halt construction while you resolve the violation.
- Certificates of occupancy can be withheld until fines and recompense are paid, as Sandy Springs, Decatur and DeKalb all provide.
- Permits can be suspended or revoked. DeKalb can void building or land disturbance permits to force compliance.
If you're cutting trees to make room for an addition, a pool or a new house, an unpermitted removal can delay the very permit you need.
Neighbors, HOAs and boundary trees
Tree violations are rarely discovered by accident. Neighbors notice and report them, and the cities rely on it. If a tree sits on or near a property line, or partly on your neighbor's land, cutting it without their consent can lead to a private civil dispute on top of any city citation. Many HOAs also have covenants restricting tree removal, with their own approval steps and fines. Compliance with the city doesn't satisfy your HOA, and HOA approval doesn't replace a city permit. If a tree is shared or near a line, get written agreement first, and talk to an attorney if there's any doubt.
Don't risk it: check first
The good news is that many removals don't need a permit, and dead, dying or hazardous trees often follow a faster path. The only way to know is to check before you cut. Use the CanICut permit checker. Enter your address, find your jurisdiction and see whether your tree likely needs a permit, in seconds.
FAQ
What is the fine for cutting a tree without a permit in Atlanta? Under the City of Atlanta ordinance, at least $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each additional one, with each tree a separate violation. You can also owe recompense of $140 per diameter inch (2026 rate). Where the tree count can't be determined, the fine can be assessed at $200,000 per acre, prorated.
Can I be fined if my tree company cut it? Yes. Atlanta's ordinance treats the owner and contractors who commit or assist in a violation as each guilty of a separate offense. Sandy Springs makes property owners jointly and severally responsible.
Can an illegal tree removal hold up my building permit? Yes. Stop-work orders and withheld certificates of occupancy are standard tools in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Decatur and DeKalb County.
Do I need a permit to remove a dead or hazardous tree? Often the rules are different, but you usually still need to document it or notify the city. Requirements vary, so check your jurisdiction first.
Is there a statewide tree permit in Georgia? No. Tree rules are set by each city or county, so the jurisdiction your address is in is what matters.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Penalties are set by ordinance and applied case by case. Confirm with your local arborist or permitting office.
Sources: Atlanta Code Ch. 158 Art. II (as amended by 24-O-1691 and 26-O-1015); City of Atlanta news release on TPO passage; Atlanta Arborist Division; Sandy Springs Development Code Art. 9; Decatur UDO §9.1.20; DeKalb County Code §14-39 and §1-10; Roswell UDC Art. 12 and §13.14.