Tree Removal
From a single dead pine to a towering oak leaning over your roof, we connect you with skilled, insured local crews who take trees down safely — no matter how big or how tight the space.
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Decatur tree care
Tree Service in Decatur
Decatur's walkable, tree-lined streets and close-set bungalows mean a lot of mature trees on compact lots — beautiful, but often a challenge to work on without the right rigging and care.
- Same-day emergency
- Licensed & insured pros
- Free, no-pressure quotes
Local tree pros
Trusted tree service for Decatur
Decatur's walkable, tree-lined streets and close-set bungalows mean a lot of mature trees on compact lots — beautiful, but often a challenge to work on without the right rigging and care.
We connect Decatur homeowners with crews who specialize in careful, tight-access tree work — protecting your home, your neighbor's, and the landscaping in between — backed by a free estimate and full cleanup.
Book a Free AssessmentPermits & local rules
Decatur's tree ordinance: the strictest in the metro
Decatur has one of metro Atlanta's strictest tree ordinances. Since the city's Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance was updated in March 2022, homeowners can no longer take down healthy trees at will — the old three-trees-per-18-months allowance is gone.
Removing a diseased or risky tree requires a city permit backed by a certified arborist's assessment report, and even a standing dead tree involves paperwork — a Dead Tree Affirmation form with photos, emailed to the city. Permits can take up to 10 business days, so plan ahead.
The city's goal is 55% tree canopy by 2039, and the rules are written to get there. We work in Decatur constantly: a proper arborist assessment satisfies the permit requirement, and we handle the application before any removal begins.
Official source: City of Decatur — Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance →
What we do in Decatur
Every kind of tree work, done right.
One call connects you with the right local crew for the job — fully insured, with a spotless cleanup.
Trimming & Pruning
Good pruning is the cheapest tree work you'll ever buy — it keeps trees healthy, safe, and beautiful, and it prevents the failures that turn into expensive removals later.
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Stump Grinding
That leftover stump is more than an eyesore — it trips mowers, sprouts suckers, and attracts termites and carpenter ants. Grinding it out lets you take the space back.
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Storm Response
When a tree is on your house or across your driveway, every hour matters. We answer the phone day or night and move fast to make your property safe again.
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Tree Health
A struggling tree usually gives you warning signs long before it fails. Catch them early and there's often a lot you can do to save it.
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Land Clearing
Whether you're building, fencing, farming, or just taking back a jungle, we connect you with crews who clear land efficiently and haul it all away.
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Cabling & Bracing
Sometimes the right answer isn't removal. Cables and braces can support a structurally weak tree and buy a beloved shade tree many more years.
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Crane Removal
For the giants, the dead trees you can't climb, and the impossible angles, a crane is the safest, fastest, and often the most affordable way to get it done.
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Decatur's old-growth streets
Trees we work on in Decatur
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Century-old canopy in decline
Decatur's neighborhoods date to the 1910s–1940s, and many original water oaks and willow oaks are reaching the end of their lifespan — decline, deadwood, and decay over close-set bungalows is the signature Decatur job.
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Tight-lot removals
Compact in-town lots with houses, fences, and gardens on every side call for precision rigging or crane work — not drop-and-run tree cutting.
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Pecans and legacy hardwoods
Old pecans, white oaks, and tulip poplars are worth preserving where they're sound — pruning, cabling, and health care extend their lives.
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Storm-shed limbs
Mature fast-growers shed heavy limbs in summer storms; proactive crown cleaning protects roofs, cars, and power lines.
Neighborhoods we serve
Across every corner of Decatur
Crews work Decatur's streetcar-era neighborhoods every week:
- Oakhurst
- Winnona Park
- MAK Historic District
- Great Lakes
- Lenox Place
- Clairemont Estates
- Glennwood Estates
- College Heights
- Ponce de Leon Terrace
- Emory Acres
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Decatur?
Almost always, yes — Decatur is the strictest city in the metro. Since the March 2022 ordinance update, removing a diseased or risky tree requires a permit with a certified arborist's assessment report, and even standing dead trees require a Dead Tree Affirmation form with photos. We prepare the assessment and handle the paperwork.
Can I still remove three trees every 18 months in Decatur?
No — that older allowance was eliminated when the Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance was amended in March 2022. Some websites still describe the old rule; it no longer applies.
How long does a Decatur tree permit take?
The city says up to 10 business days. Build that into your timeline for planned work — genuine storm emergencies are handled differently, so call us right away if a tree is on a structure.
Why are so many big oaks declining in Decatur?
Much of Decatur's canopy was planted when the streetcar-suburb neighborhoods were built a century ago. Water oaks in particular are fast-growing but short-lived — many are simply timing out, and decay in big trunks over houses is what our arborists check first.
Where we work
Also serving nearby
From inside the Perimeter to the far suburbs — explore tree service in these metro Atlanta areas:
- Buckhead
- Marietta
- Decatur
- Sandy Springs
- Roswell
- Alpharetta
- Brookhaven
- Smyrna
- Dunwoody
- East Atlanta
- Vinings
- Kennesaw
- Tucker
- Stone Mountain
Don't see your neighborhood? Give us a call — chances are we're already nearby.
Storm damage can't wait
Tree down? We're on call 24 hours a day.
Hazardous limbs, blocked driveways, a tree on the house — call now and we'll get a crew rolling.
Free, no-obligation
Get your free estimate
Tell us about your trees and we'll get back to you quickly to set up a free, on-site estimate.
- Your contactJosiah Arzabe
- Call or text(404) 602-2998
- Emailhello@atlantatree.com
- HoursMon–Sat 7a–7p · 24/7 emergencies