The City lists removal of residential trees 24 inches in diameter or larger among activities requiring a permit.
City of Smyrna, Georgia · 2026 guide
Smyrna tree permits, in plain language.
Confirm the property, measure the tree, document its condition, and use the City’s Arborist Division portal before removal or construction begins.
Read the requirementsCurrent Chapter 106 tree and vegetation processLast reviewed September 17, 2026
At a glance
Start with the property, the tree, and the proposed work.
The City lists commercial tree removals as permit-required rather than using the residential 24-inch shorthand.
Smyrna offers private-tree assessment reports for $50 per tree; multiple trees may share one application.
Tree removal permits and City tree assessment reports are submitted through Smyrna’s OpenGov portal.
01 / First question
Is the property inside Smyrna?
A Smyrna postal address does not prove the parcel lies inside the incorporated City. Confirm City jurisdiction before using Chapter 106 or the Smyrna permit portal; nearby unincorporated Cobb County follows a different process.
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.
Residential tree 24 inches or larger
Apply before removal.
Smyrna’s current residential permitting guidance identifies removal of a tree 24 inches in diameter or larger as permit-required. Confirm measurement and current portal requirements with the Arborist Division.
Commercial property
Tree removal enters permit review.
The City’s commercial guidance lists tree removal as a permit activity. Coordinate removals with the site, landscape, grading, and building documents rather than treating them as separate work.
Condition or risk concern
Choose the evidence path that fits the decision.
Smyrna offers a City Tree Assessment Report for eligible private trees. An independent consulting arborist can also document condition and risk for owners and project teams.
Boundary or neighboring tree
Ownership still matters.
The City assessment program is limited to trees on the applicant’s property, except a boundary tree on a shared property line. Confirm ownership and obtain authorization before planning work.
03 / Project record
Coordinate the tree record with the permit set.
For construction or land disturbance, organize enough information for the Arborist Division to understand existing trees and proposed impacts. A useful package can include:
01
Tree inventory with species, diameter, condition, and mapped location
02
Property lines, structures, and proposed improvements
03
Grading, utilities, access, and limits of disturbance
04
Trees to retain and remove
05
Tree-protection fencing and root-zone controls
06
Replacement planting and landscape information
04 / Condition + risk
Use the assessment to clarify what should happen next.
A useful risk record identifies the tree, targets, observed defects, likelihood of failure and impact, consequences, risk rating, and reasonable mitigation. Tree Collective can collect field points and prepare a TRAQ-informed assessment; Smyrna also offers its own paid Tree Assessment Report, and the City retains permit authority.
05 / Conservation + replacement
Removal review and development review are not the same calculation.
A standalone residential removal and a construction or commercial project can require different supporting information. Do not assume the 24-inch residential threshold describes every tree obligation on a permitted project.
Use the current Chapter 106 requirements, approved plans, and Arborist Division direction for preservation, replacement, inspection, and closeout requirements.
06 / Professional support
Pick the assessment route based on the client’s need.
The City’s assessment can help a property owner understand one or more private trees. A consulting arborist is better positioned when the work also requires inventory, independent risk documentation, design coordination, construction protection, or a record shared among multiple project stakeholders.
Official applications + sources
Go directly to Smyrna.
Official source
Arborist Division
Official removal-permit and tree-assessment pathways, fees, scope, and City Arborist contact.
Open source+Official sourceCommunity Development
Department responsibilities, online application portal, and property mapping resources.
Open source+Official sourceBuilding Division
Current residential and commercial permit guidance, including tree-removal activities.
Open source+Official sourceOnline application portal
Official online portal for Tree Removal Permits, Tree Assessment Reports, and related permits.
Open source+Source review
Reviewed September 17, 2026.
Reviewed against Smyrna’s official Arborist, Community Development, and Building Division guidance and the current online application routes. Confirm Chapter 106 standards, measurement, and fees with the City for the specific property and project.
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.