Tree Service in Birmingham, AL

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Birmingham's tree rules: public vs. private

Birmingham is the one metro city where the tree rules are spelled out in an official city source — and the key distinction is whose tree it is:

• Public trees — trees on public property, including street rights-of-way and parks — are managed by the City's Department of Public Services. All work on public trees must be done or approved by the City. To prune or plant a tree on public property, the property owner must obtain a permit and hire a tree service registered with the City Clerk.
• Private trees — trees in your own yard — are the property owner's responsibility. Planting, maintenance, and removals are at the owner's discretion, with two exceptions: the City may require specific action on a diseased tree, and private trees within 25 feet of new development are considered in site plan reviews.
• Shared trees — typically inside the sidewalk or at the edge of the right-of-way — are maintained by the City, and all public-tree rules apply.

During construction or development, all work near public trees goes through site plan review, and removal, pruning, or root pruning of public trees is prohibited unless approved in a site plan or tree work permit. The City's Tree Preservation Ordinance sets out the policies and fines.

Bottom line for a Birmingham homeowner: a tree in your yard is generally yours to deal with; a tree on the street side of the sidewalk, or in a park or right-of-way, is the City's — report a hazardous one to the City rather than hiring a crew for it. If you are unsure which side of the line your tree falls on, check with the City before work starts.

What Birmingham yards usually need

• Big-tree removals in tight lots — older neighborhoods have large oaks and pines close to houses, fences, and driveways. These come down in sections by rope, or by crane where the street allows.
• Clearance pruning — limbs over roofs, driveways, and lines, and canopy raising over walks and streets.
• Storm work — Birmingham's spring and late-fall severe weather leaves fallen trees, hangers, and leaners. See storm cleanup.
• Stump grinding — after a removal, grinding the stump below grade so the spot can be mowed or replanted. See stump grinding.

What it typically costs

Common questions

Can a crew work on the tree in front of my house, by the street?

Maybe not — if it is a shared or public tree (inside the sidewalk or at the edge of the right-of-way), the City maintains it and a private crew needs city approval. Tell us where the tree sits on the form and we will point you right.

What if my tree is near a power line?

Do not cut near it yourself. If a main line is involved, the utility has to be involved before anyone cuts.

Do I need to check my HOA too?

Yes, if you have one — HOA rules are separate from city rules, and some require approval before a removal even when the city does not.