Atlanta Tree Ordinance: Latest news & action alerts.

In 2025, the Planning Department presented a new Tree Protection Ordinance (TPO) to the Atlanta City Council that would have strengthened protections for existing trees on developing single family lots. But in May 2025, just 2 weeks before a final vote, under pressure from development lobbyists, they removed all protections for existing trees. Many Council Members believed some tree protections should be included -- at least for single family -- and there is now interest among Council Members to restore our proposed amendment that would protect more existing trees. We know all trees cannot be saved, but we can do a better job preserving more trees on most developments, Our amendment ensures more trees, especially high value trees, can be preserved, while still protecting rights to build. We've even included some extra incentives for building affordable homes -- with trees. Because everyone deserves to live with trees.  

City Council and the Mayor need to know you care about protecting more existing trees and that you want our amendment added to the TPO.

Atlanta's Mayors and City Council Members have delayed and deferred effective tree protection for over 10 years. The result: Atlanta continues to steadily, increasingly lose its trees. See the newest report:

Atlanta’s Tree Canopy Hits New Low (Saporta Report-August 3, 2026)

Contacts

You can find your council person here.

You can paste this list of council person emails into your email:

jwinston@atlantaga.gov; bdamos@atlantaga.gov; jdozier@atlantaga.gov; lbakhtiari@atlantaga.gov; awan@atlantaga.gov; mnorwood@atlantaga.gov; drhillis@atlantaga.gov; aboone@atlantaga.gov; mcoverstreet@atlantaga.gov; anlewis@atlantaga.gov; mbond@atlantaga.gov; mwestmoreland@atlantaga.gov; kbond@atlantaga.gov; tworthy@atlantaga.gov; eshecollins@atlantaga.gov; wmartin@atlantaga.gov

Mayor Dickens: adickens@atlantaga.gov 404.630.6100

Sample letter for council and the mayor

Please customize the letter and please copy us (cityintheforest.org@gmail.com).

Coming soon…