Athens City Code

It is unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm, or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property. The term "topping" means the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this chapter. The Athens Utilities Board and its designated representative in tree topping shall be exempt from this section.

(Code 1972, § 12-612; Code 1995, § 20-512)