It depends on where your tree is. The City of Greenville has a tree ordinance, and the county's rules mostly cover new development, so a tree inside city limits needs a call to the city before you cut. We could not find the city's own page on this, so confirm with the city or the county first.
Need this done? See tree Removal in Greenville, SC or call (864) 555-0142.
The details below come from news reports and third-party summaries, not from an official rule book. Treat them as a starting point and check with the source before you act.
What does the City of Greenville require?
The city passed a tree ordinance in 2021. A local news report says it applies when a tree is cut down: the person responsible has to replant or pay a fee. The fee is $50 per inch of trunk width, measured about 4.5 feet above the ground. Removing a heritage tree adds $45 per inch, so $95 per inch in all. The report also mentions a maximum fine of $25,000 per acre (WSPA, March 2025).
The same report ties the ordinance to new development and does not list exemptions. It does not say whether a homeowner needs a permit to take down a tree on a house lot, and it does not define a heritage tree. Do not assume either way.
What about unincorporated Greenville County?
Outside city limits the county's rules apply. Greenville County's tree rules, which sit in Ordinance 4173 and the Land Development Regulations, are aimed at new subdivisions and projects that need grading or land-disturbance permits. A site that summarizes local rules says a homeowner on an established single-family lot generally does not need a permit to remove trees (CityRuleLookup). That is not an official source.
Trees listed on an approved Tree Protection Plan for a development cannot be removed without county approval. If your house is in a newer subdivision, your plat or your HOA may show protected trees.
Do streams and wetlands change the answer?
They can. A tree near a regulated stream, wetland or floodplain may fall under state or federal rules, whatever the zoning on your lot. If the tree stands close to a creek or low ground, ask before you cut, and ask the crew whether they have worked near the water before.
What about my HOA?
Many neighborhoods have covenants about removing trees or changing the look of the yard. Those are separate from city and county rules, and they can apply even when no permit is needed. Read your covenants or send the HOA a short note before you hire a crew.
What if the tree is dead or dangerous?
Call the city or the county and ask whether a dead or hazardous tree is treated differently. Many places ask for proof, such as photos or a report from an arborist, but we have not found a source that says what Greenville requires. Ask, and write down who you spoke to and when.
If a tree has just come down in a storm, the first job is to make the house and the yard safe. See emergency tree service if you are in that spot, and keep in mind that emergency work follows its own timing.
Who owns the tree, and who pays?
A tree whose trunk stands on your lot is yours, even when its limbs reach over a fence. A tree on the property line may belong to both neighbors, and cutting it without agreement can lead to a dispute. A tree in the road right-of-way may belong to the city, the county or the state.
Trees touching a power line are a separate case. Call the power company, not a tree crew. Duke Energy says a vegetation specialist assesses reported hazards, and it asks customers to call to have a service line made safe before tree work near it (Duke Energy). Confirm that Duke is your utility.
How do you avoid a fine?
Ask first, and get the answer in writing. A short email to the city or the county is enough: give the address, say how wide the tree is and why it has to come down. A crew that works around Greenville should also know what the city expects, so ask each company whether it handles the paperwork or leaves it to you. Compare that with the price in how much tree removal costs in Greenville.
Ready to talk through your tree?
Call or send the estimate form with the address, how wide the tree is and what is wrong with it. We will tell you what the job takes, and point you to the city or county for the permit question.
Need help with this?
See our tree Removal page for how it works and typical prices, or call (864) 555-0142 and tell us what you’re looking at.