DeKalb County District 2 Commissioner Michelle Long Spears and Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry are launching a rewrite of the county’s tree protection ordinance and hosting meetings throughout September to gather community feedback.
DeKalb County’s tree protection ordinance, Sec. 14-39 of the county’s municipal code, has not been updated in more than 20 years. While DeKalb County’s tree coverage is vast and growing – a 2025 Urban Tree Canopy Study found that tree canopy is the most common land cover in DeKalb, and the canopy increased from 58% in 2010 to 60% in 2023 – updating the tree ordinance will ensure maintained protection of trees across DeKalb.
“Our old growth trees are truly a precious commodity worth protecting,” Terry said. “For the first time in over two decades, the county is addressing a crucial ordinance that will ensure our tree canopy is protected. Trees are more than just beautiful to look at; they provide us with shade, offset heat island effects, aid in water dispersal, prevent erosion, and produce the very air we breathe. This tree ordinance update will ensure that we are protecting our trees today and for years to come.”
Terry and Spears will hold public DeKalb Tree Protection Ordinance Update Community Meetings throughout DeKalb County beginning Sept. 2, with a meeting in every district, as well as a virtual option.
Tucker’s meeting will be held on Sept. 16 at Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library at 6:30 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, the virtual meeting will be held via Teams on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Other meetings will be held in Decatur, Lithonia, and Scottdale from Sept. 2-10.
Each meeting will include an introduction to the tree protection ordinance, a discussion on the ordinance, a question-and-answer segment, and a survey for attendees.
More information and RSVP forms for all community meetings can be found on Terry’s website.
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