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Chattanooga tree service / Guides

Can you ask the city to remove a tree in Chattanooga?

Last checked: November 7, 2026. Data through November 4, 2026.

If a tree is on a power line or anyone is in danger, call 911. Don't use 311 for emergencies.
Short answer: Yes, for a tree on public land, such as the street right-of-way or a city property. Ask through 311 and pick the request type that fits. In the city's own data, almost all requests about fallen trees and branches on streets were closed within days, while about 3 in 10 tree removal requests were closed as unresolved.

Which 311 request to use

The city says four 311 request types go to its tree staff. The names in the city's published data are slightly different, so both are shown.

Your situationRequest typeHandled by, in the data
A fallen tree or branch on a public streetTree Fallen/BranchStreets
A public tree that needs pruningTree Trimming Shown as Tree Pruning in the dataForestry
A public tree you think should come downTree RemovalForestry
Anything else about a public tree, including asking for a new oneTree Problem Shown as Tree Concern or Question in the dataForestry

How to send a request

Give the exact location, say whether the tree is blocking a road or sidewalk, and add a photo if the form allows one.

What happened to tree requests, by the city's own data

We counted 2,586 tree requests in the city's published 311 data, from April 16, 2025 to November 4, 2026.

City of Chattanooga 311 data, April 16, 2025 to November 4, 2026
Request typeRequestsClosedClosed as unresolvedStill open or pendingTypical days to close
Tree fallen or branch1,15899%1%1%4
Tree pruning68372%23%28%6
Tree concern or question49878%38%22%5
Tree removal24772%31%28%6

"Closed" counts every status that starts with Closed, including closed as unresolved. "Typical days to close" is the median number of calendar days for closed requests. Of the 247 removal requests, 35 (14%) were marked as pending long-term projects.

The data doesn't say why a request was closed as unresolved. If you need a public tree dealt with by a certain date, don't rely on 311 alone. Follow up by email with Urban Forestry at [email protected].

First, check whether the tree is public

The city's permit rules cover trees on the public right-of-way and on city-owned parcels. The city pages we checked don't say whether the strip between the sidewalk and the street counts as public land. Ask Urban Forestry or 311 before anyone cuts.

If you want to remove or work on a public tree yourself, you need a Tree Ordinance Permit first. The city lists the fee at $500, and the permit lasts two years. See do you need a permit to remove a tree in Chattanooga?

If the tree is on your own land

The city says its 2025 tree ordinance doesn't stop homeowners from removing trees on their own property. In that case you'd normally hire a tree company. Our tree removal page covers prices and what to ask. If the tree is your neighbor's, read who pays when a neighbor's tree falls.

We're a referral service, not the city. Request types and procedures can change, so check with 311 if anything here doesn't match what you see.

Sources