The City says removal of any tree four inches DBH or greater requires a permit, regardless of condition.
City of Brookhaven, Georgia · 2026 guide
Brookhaven tree permits, in plain language.
Start with the four-inch permit threshold, then document the trees, property, reason for removal, and canopy plan that fit the work.
Read the requirementsCurrent Chapter 14 tree-preservation processLast reviewed September 17, 2026
At a glance
Start with the property, the tree, and the proposed work.
Measure trunk diameter at breast height, four and one-half feet above the ground.
The City lists no permit fee for an owner-occupied residential property.
The City lists a $25 fee for commercial and investment properties; verify the current fee schedule.
01 / First question
Is the property inside Brookhaven?
Brookhaven sits within DeKalb County, but a Brookhaven mailing address does not by itself establish City jurisdiction. Confirm the parcel lies inside the incorporated City before using its permit portal.
Best first step
Use the address lookup on the Tree Collective ordinance map, then confirm the result with the governing jurisdiction before beginning work.
Open the ordinance lookup02 / Permit paths
The condition of the tree and the reason for work shape the path.
Any tree 4 inches or larger
Start with a removal permit.
Brookhaven’s published guidance requires a permit before removing a tree at or above four inches DBH, including a dead, dying, diseased, or hazardous tree.
Dead, dying, or hazardous
Condition still needs evidence.
The application checklist calls for photographs and, for a dead, dying, diseased, or insect-infested tree, an arborist letter verifying condition.
Residential request
Show the property and every affected tree.
The two-page packet requests species, DBH, reason for removal, lot information, photographs, and a sketch, survey, or aerial showing property lines, structures, removals, and trees that remain.
Development or construction
Coordinate the tree plan with the site plan.
Grading, utilities, access, structures, landscape work, boundary trees, specimen trees, and canopy requirements should be resolved as part of the development package.
03 / Project record
Prepare one record the whole project team can use.
The right level of detail depends on whether this is an individual removal or a development project. A coordinated package can include:
01
Tree inventory with species, DBH, condition, and mapped point
02
Photos keyed to tree numbers
03
Property boundaries, structures, and proposed work
04
Trees to retain and remove
05
Protection zones and construction controls
06
Canopy coverage, replacement, and specimen-tree calculations
04 / Condition + risk
A condition claim should be clear enough to review.
For a tree presented as hazardous or in decline, a concise assessment should connect observed defects and condition to the relevant targets and recommended action. Tree Collective can collect the tree locations and prepare a TRAQ-informed risk assessment when appropriate; permit approval remains with the City.
05 / Conservation + replacement
Canopy and specimen trees can change the answer.
Brookhaven’s tree-preservation rules include canopy-coverage and replacement requirements. Larger specimen trees receive special treatment under the development standards, including species-based size thresholds.
Use the current code, application checklist, and City Arborist review for the actual calculation. Lot conditions, retained canopy, development activity, boundary trees, and proposed planting can all affect the approved plan.
06 / Professional support
The City Arborist reviews; your arborist documents and coordinates.
Brookhaven notes that City arborists do not provide private-tree assessments. A consulting arborist can identify and map trees, document condition, prepare an assessment letter, and coordinate protection or replacement information for the permit package.
Official applications + sources
Go directly to Brookhaven.
Official source
How to apply
Official permit threshold, fees, portal route, and submission overview.
Open source+Official sourceTree Canopy Preservation
City Arborist information, measuring guidance, and private-tree process.
Open source+Official sourceRemoval application
Official application and supporting-document checklist.
Open source+Official sourceChapter 14 code
Official City code PDF containing tree-preservation requirements.
Open source+Official sourceForms
Current Community Development forms and packets.
Open source+Official sourceFee schedule
Current City fee schedule; confirm fees before applying.
Open source+Source review
Reviewed September 17, 2026.
Reviewed against Brookhaven’s official tree-removal instructions, Tree Canopy Preservation page, application checklist, Chapter 14 code PDF, forms library, and fee schedule. Confirm portal instructions and fees at the time of application.
This is practical educational information, not a permit decision or legal advice. Requirements can change and may depend on site conditions, project scope, administrative standards, and staff findings.
Tree Collective consulting
Bring the tree question into focus.
Tree Collective can help interpret ordinance requirements, inventory trees, assess condition and risk, review construction impacts, prepare tree protection plans and arboricultural prescriptions, and organize permit documentation for the project team.
Tree Collective does not issue permits, control municipal decisions, or act on behalf of the City.