News Releases from the Southern Research Station

Communities Developing Tree Ordinances to Promote Mature Tree Canopies

Asheville, NC -- The value that trees provide for the quality of life of residents in counties and cities is being recognized in the Southeastern United States by the development and testing of tree ordinances based on mature canopy size. The Forest Service's Southern Center for Urban Forestry Research and Development has developed a short paper, "Tree Canopy Ordinances," that discusses an example based on the tree ordinances adopted by Covington, GA, with additional examples from Athens, GA and Chesapeake, VA. For more information, or a copy of the paper, contact Dudley Hartel, Southern Research Station Technology Transfer Specialist, at 706-559-4236, or email: dhartel@fs.fed.us.

These canopy ordinances have several things in common with tree density unit ordinances:

Ordinance requirements are triggered by a development activity (e.g. application for a Land Disturbance permit or an Erosion & Sedimentation permit),

• A pre-development tree inventory is required,
• Trees being conserved must be protected throughout the construction project,
• A mathematical calculation is required,
• On-site inspections are made by the local government,
• There is a tree maintenance requirement to ensure survival and health.

Although these ordinances are quite new, they are based on the long-term retention (or replacement) of tree canopy based on development zones. For example, in the Athens-Clarke County ordinance, mature tree canopy cover is between 40% and 50% for residential developments. Single family residential subdivisions are not required to have canopy cover; however, they are required to plant street trees. Multifamily residential areas are required to have canopy cover, as well as street trees and parking lot trees. Like any ordinance, the success of tree canopy ordinances depends on community acceptance, compliance and enforcement.