Tree Removal Permits in Savannah: What You Need to Know

Savannah takes its tree canopy seriously, and the rules around removing trees are stricter than most homeowners expect. The Metropolitan Planning Commission, generally called the MPC, administers the city and Chatham County tree ordinance. The ordinance protects significant trees on both public and private property, and the penalties for cutting without a permit can be brutal. This is the short, practical version of what you need to know before you cut.

Permits are generally required for any tree above a certain diameter at breast height, called DBH, measured at four and a half feet from the ground. The exact threshold depends on whether the tree is on private residential property, commercial property, or public right of way, and whether the species is considered a protected canopy tree. Live oaks, southern magnolias, bald cypress, and other heritage species often have lower thresholds than fast-growing or invasive species like Bradford pear.

Heritage trees get extra protection. A heritage tree is generally defined as a specimen of unusual size, age, or historical significance, and removal of one requires a full review with arborist documentation, public notice, and in some cases City Council action. Heritage live oaks in the squares and along the avenues are essentially never approved for removal except in cases of confirmed decline or structural failure.

Trees in the right of way, meaning the strip between the sidewalk and the street and any tree on city-owned land, are not yours to cut regardless of who is paying the property taxes. The city park and tree department handles those trees directly, and unauthorized cutting in the right of way is treated as destruction of public property. If a city tree is causing you problems, the path is to file a service request with the city, not to call a tree service.

Common exemptions exist for emergencies. A tree that has fallen on a structure, blocked a road, or is in imminent danger of failing can usually be removed without prior permit. You still need to document the situation thoroughly, ideally with photos and an arborist report, and you usually need to file an after-the-fact notification with the MPC. Reputable tree services know exactly how to handle this paperwork.

The permit process itself is not complicated. You or your tree service files an application with the MPC, provides site photos, a justification for the removal, and a proposed replanting plan if required. Most residential applications are reviewed within one to three weeks. The MPC may require a site visit by a city arborist for larger trees or borderline cases. Approved permits typically come with replanting requirements, usually one or more replacement trees of a specified species and size.

The fines for unpermitted removal are designed to hurt. The penalty schedule is typically based on the size of the tree, and a single mature live oak removed without a permit can result in fines of fifteen thousand dollars or more, plus mandatory replanting of multiple replacement trees. The city does enforce. Neighbors complain, code enforcement officers drive routes, and aerial imagery comparisons make unpermitted removal easy to spot months after the fact.

How do you avoid trouble. First, never assume a tree on your private property is yours to cut just because you own the dirt. Second, ask your tree service to confirm in writing whether a permit is needed before any work begins. A legitimate tree service will check the ordinance and pull the permit on your behalf. Third, if a tree service tells you no permit is needed and you have any doubt, call the MPC directly. The conversation takes ten minutes and can save you tens of thousands of dollars.

There are also private restrictions to consider. Many neighborhoods, especially the planned communities around Pooler, Richmond Hill, and the islands, have HOA tree rules that go beyond the city ordinance. Some require board approval before any removal. Check your covenants before you cut.

The permit process can feel like friction, but the ordinance is the reason Savannah looks the way it does. The canopy that defines the squares and the historic avenues exists because the city has been protecting these trees for generations. The five-minute permit conversation is the price of admission for living somewhere with a real urban forest.