A hardwood reaches the reviewed landmark size at 27 inches DBH, subject to the ordinance’s full classification and condition rules.
City of Pine Lake, Georgia · 2026 guide
Pine Lake tree protection, in plain language.
Pine Lake connects tree review to landmark trees, boundary impacts, root zones, construction, stream protection, and the City’s small-lot landscape.
Read the requirementsCurrent reviewed ordinance packageLast reviewed September 17, 2026
At a glance
Start with the property, the tree, and the proposed work.
A pine reaches the reviewed landmark size at 30 inches DBH when it is at least 30 feet from a structure.
Dogwood and redbud reach the reviewed landmark size at ten inches DBH.
The critical root zone is the greater of the dripline or 1.25 feet per DBH inch, to the depth stated by the ordinance.
01 / First question
Is the property inside Pine Lake?
This guide applies inside the incorporated City of Pine Lake. A postal address does not establish jurisdiction. Confirm the property point, parcel controls, approved plans, easements, buffers, and current City instructions before relying on a general rule.
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.
Standalone removal
Identify the tree and permit branch first.
The current route distinguishes landmark, hazard, residential, maintenance, and smaller-tree branches. Do not classify from diameter alone.
Boundary impact
Map the root zone across the property line.
Work affecting a qualifying boundary tree or its critical root zone requires review and reliable location information.
Construction or land disturbance
Use a qualified tree and site plan.
The site tree conservation plan coordinates existing trees, root zones, construction, grading, drainage, utilities, mitigation, and protection.
Stream or wetland area
Verify the field boundary before design.
Local stream, floodplain, wetland, lake, and state-water controls can overlap and require separate confirmation.
03 / Project record
Connect the tree record to the property and proposed work.
The exact package depends on the site and project. Useful information can include:
01
Existing-tree inventory with DBH, species, condition, and critical root zones
02
Landmark and boundary-tree classification
03
Construction, grading, drainage, utilities, and protection
04
Mitigation planting and Tree Bank information
05
Inspection and qualified-professional closeout records
04 / Condition + risk
Tree condition and permit authority are different questions.
A TRAQ-informed assessment can document condition, targets, likelihood, consequences, and reasonable mitigation. Tree Collective can collect the tree point and field evidence. The City decides whether that evidence satisfies its ordinance and permit process.
05 / Conservation + replacement
Preservation, replacement, and site controls must be read together.
Tree size alone rarely supplies the whole answer. Project type, location, buffers, zoning, approved plans, tree condition, and proposed disturbance can change the review path.
Confirm current forms, calculations, fees, bonds, planting standards, inspection steps, and closeout requirements with the City before work.
06 / Professional support
Use the arborist record to make the next decision clearer.
A consulting arborist can identify and map trees, document condition and risk, coordinate root protection with grading and utilities, and prepare a record for owners, contractors, designers, and reviewers. Regulatory approval remains with the governing authority.
Official applications + sources
Go directly to Pine Lake.
Source review
Reviewed September 17, 2026.
Prepared from the source-backed AskR Tree Collective publication reviewed September 17, 2026. This guide explains the reviewed record; it does not determine property-specific applicability or replace City confirmation.
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.